A brief history about development of String Theories

In summary, the conversation discusses various aspects and criticisms of string theory, including its relation to the Newtonian paradigm, its lack of experimental evidence and predictions, and ongoing efforts to connect it with the standard model. It also mentions the use of submilimeter experiments to test for deviations from the inverse square law of gravity and the possibility of string theory being a phase of SU(3). Some resources and references related to string theory are also mentioned.
  • #1
kiarash_niknejad2003
---------------------------------------------------------------------
References:

1) Green M., Schwarz J., Witten E., Superstring Theory Vol. 1,2, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1987
2) S.Klimenko, V.Talanov, I.Nikitin ``Singularities on the world sheets of open relativistic strings'', Preprint IHEP 95-7, (Institute for High Energy Physics, Protvino, Russia, 1995).
3) Introduction to Superstring Theory {http://www.arxiv.org/abs/hep-ex/0008017)
4) "String theory in a nutshell" written by (JM Figueroa-O'Farrill)
{http://www.strings.ph.qmw.ac.uk/WhatIs/Nutshell.html [Broken]}


---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Good text, excet by the fuzzy concept of "Newtonian paradigm". One should clarify why it is a model, why it is from Newton, and how it does realte to strings after all.

Also, I'd like to include the recent (a couple years old by now) ideas of reusing the string in its original context, in QCD, and some more mentions to submilimeter dimensions etc.
 
  • #3
You might also want to find some place in your text to note that string theory makes no predictions and there is not the slightest shred of experimental evidence for it after twenty years of work on the idea.

Or, alternately, you could explain how an increasingly large number of string theorists think that if string theory makes sense, it is completely vacuous, since the "landscape" of its 10^1000 or more solutions can give you any predictions about physics you want.
 
  • #4
sub-mm dimensions?

Originally posted by arivero
*SNIP

... and some more mentions to submilimeter dimensions etc.
AFAIK there've been quite a few experiments done to look for deviations from inverse square law gravity (for example), down to ~1 micron. Have there been any results other than NULL? What other objectives have sub-mm experiments had?
 
  • #5
social reinsertion

Perhaps a goal of submilimeter stuff, but also of Randrall Sundrum etc, was to bring back gradually into reality to the string theoreticians far far away the standard model. At the end the string theory could recover its original rule as a phase of SU(3)...
 
  • #6
We do not condone plagiarism here on physicsforums. If you copy someone else's work, you must provide at least a link to the original, if not a full citation including the author's name.

For reference, the original text is available here:

http://www.strings.ph.qmw.ac.uk/WhatIs/Nutshell.html [Broken]

and was written by JM Figueroa-O'Farrill.

- Warren
 
Last edited by a moderator:

1. What is the history of the development of String Theories?

The history of String Theories can be traced back to the early 20th century, when physicists were trying to reconcile the theories of gravity and electromagnetism. In the 1960s, the first version of String Theory was proposed as a way to describe the fundamental particles of the universe as tiny strings rather than point-like particles. Since then, there have been multiple developments and advancements in the theory, leading to the current understanding of String Theories as a possible theory of everything.

2. Who were the key figures in the development of String Theories?

Some of the key figures in the development of String Theories include physicists such as Leonard Susskind, Gabriele Veneziano, Michael Green, John Schwarz, and Edward Witten. Each of these individuals made significant contributions to the theory, building upon each other's work to further develop and refine String Theories.

3. What are the main concepts and principles of String Theories?

String Theories propose that the fundamental building blocks of the universe are not point-like particles, but rather tiny strings. These strings vibrate at different frequencies, giving rise to different particles. The theory also incorporates the concept of extra dimensions beyond the familiar four (length, width, height, and time) and suggests that gravity is not a fundamental force, but rather emerges from the interactions of these strings.

4. How has the development of String Theories impacted modern physics?

The development of String Theories has had a significant impact on modern physics. It has brought together previously conflicting theories, such as quantum mechanics and general relativity, and provided a potential framework for understanding the fundamental laws of the universe. It has also sparked new research and advancements in related fields, such as supersymmetry and brane theory.

5. What are some current challenges and limitations of String Theories?

One of the main challenges of String Theories is that it has yet to be experimentally verified. Due to the extremely small scale of strings, it is currently impossible to observe them directly. Additionally, the theory is still in the process of being developed and refined, and there are still many unanswered questions and areas of debate within the scientific community. Some also argue that the concept of extra dimensions and the lack of experimental evidence make String Theories less plausible. However, ongoing research and advancements in technology may help address these challenges and further our understanding of String Theories.

Similar threads

  • Beyond the Standard Models
2
Replies
41
Views
12K
Back
Top