Eleven Dimensions: Hidden Names & Discovery

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of hidden dimensions in theoretical physics, particularly in the context of string theory and its variations. Participants explore the nature, names, and implications of these dimensions, as well as their discovery and theoretical underpinnings.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that hidden dimensions refer to the compacted dimensions of string theory, which are necessary for the theory's consistency.
  • Superstring theory is noted to require 10 dimensions, while M-theory extends this to 11 dimensions.
  • Randall-Sundrum theory is mentioned as proposing that our 3-D world is a "brane" within a higher-dimensional "bulk," with gravity being able to spread into this bulk.
  • There is a mention of an alternative theory that posits 26 dimensions, with participants seeking qualitative explanations for these dimensions beyond time and space.
  • Some participants express confusion about the relationship between hidden dimensions and concepts like multiple or parallel universes.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the hypothetical nature of these theories, with some participants questioning their practical applications and experimental support.
  • One participant clarifies that the original bosonic string theory required 26 dimensions, but this was reduced to 10 dimensions with the introduction of supersymmetry in superstring theory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the number and nature of dimensions, with no consensus on whether 10, 11, or 26 dimensions are correct. The relationship between hidden dimensions and multiple universes remains contested, and the discussion reflects uncertainty about the implications and status of these theories.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific definitions of dimensions and theories, and there is a lack of experimental verification for many of the discussed concepts. The discussion includes unresolved questions about the qualitative nature of the 26 dimensions and the distinction between different theoretical frameworks.

drme19811
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what are the hidden dimensions? what are their names?
how did scientests discover them?
 
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Read "The Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephan Hawking. This will help explain multiple universes. But honestly, I still really don't get it. And always remember, it's all hypothetical.
 
I think by hidden dimensions he means the compacted dimensions of string theory, not multiple universes.

String theory requires more than three space dimensions to be consistent. Superstring theory requires 10 dimensions (1 time, 3 "normal space", and 4 "hidden space" dimensions). They have to be hidden because we don't see them, and they can't be eliminated without abandoning string theory. So the theorists took an idea from Kalusza and Klein of the old days and imagined the 4 extra dimensions are "compacted" into tiny shapes that are too small to detect. At every point around us, according to this theory, is such a compacted set of higher dimensions; they go around the tiny shape like little circles.

When you go from superstring theory to M-theory you add another space dimension for a total of 11.

Randall-Sundrum theory (a particular theory within superstring theory) has a different idea. They say our 3-D world is a "brane", a kind of boundary of the higher dimensional world, which they call the bulk. All the forces except one spread out only in our brane. But gravity can spread out into the bulk as well. They use this to explain why gravity is so much weaker than the other forces; it's because its strength is spread out among 4 or 5 extra dimensions.
 
How about 26 dimensions? IIRC, mathematics in those theories show that only either 11 dimensions or 26 dimensions exists.
Is there any qualitative explanation of what the 26 dimensions are, besides dimensions of time and space ?
 
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
I think by hidden dimensions he means the compacted dimensions of string theory, not multiple universes.

String theory requires more than three space dimensions to be consistent. Superstring theory requires 10 dimensions (1 time, 3 "normal space", and 4 "hidden space" dimensions).

Don't you mean 6 "hidden" space dimensions?

Randall-Sundrum theory (a particular theory within superstring theory) has a different idea. They say our 3-D world is a "brane", a kind of boundary of the higher dimensional world, which they call the bulk. All the forces except one spread out only in our brane. But gravity can spread out into the bulk as well. They use this to explain why gravity is so much weaker than the other forces; it's because its strength is spread out among 4 or 5 extra dimensions.

I've wondered about this; does the Randall-Sundrum theory fit in with M-Theory...I mean, M-Theory was the way to unify the 5 previous superstring theories, but the Randall-Sundrum approach seems like a different idea altogether.
 
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
I think by hidden dimensions he means the compacted dimensions of string theory, not multiple universes.

That's what I ment, Sorry dude.
 
26 dimensions??

Originally posted by KL Kam
How about 26 dimensions? IIRC, mathematics in those theories show that only either 11 dimensions or 26 dimensions exists.
Is there any qualitative explanation of what the 26 dimensions are, besides dimensions of time and space ?

what is that theory that shows that there is 26 dimensions??
is it a really or a fiction??
what r these dimensions?
 
Originally posted by Stryker
Read "The Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephan Hawking. This will help explain multiple universes. But honestly, I still really don't get it. And always remember, it's all hypothetical.

do u mean by (hypothetical) that it is just a theory , a fiction or doesn't have practical uses??
 
i was meaning (the compacted dimensions of string theory), but is there a difference between this & multiple universes??

is there difference between
(multiple universes) & (paralel universes)??
 
  • #10
Originally posted by drme19811
do u mean by (hypothetical) that it is just a theory , a fiction or doesn't have practical uses??

Stronger than a made up fiction, because it's part of a strong theory. But the theory has no experimental support yet. So we respect the theory, but don't yet grant it the status of relativity or quantum mechanics, which have tons and tons of expeimental verification.
 
  • #11


Originally posted by drme19811
what is that theory that shows that there is 26 dimensions??
is it a really or a fiction??
what r these dimensions?

The oringinal "bosonic" string theory required 26 dimensions. It was an exciting theory in its day because it didn't require renormalization and predicted a graviton, which had been a holy grail for physicsts for generations. But it only did bosons, not fermions (the photon is a boson, the electron is a fermion. A physics with only photons and no electrons would be pretty feeble).

So supersymmetry was aded to string theory to make superstring theory, and this one could do both fermions and bosons. Also the supersymmetry "ate up" some of the original degrees of freedom and reduced the required dimensions from 26 to 10.
 
  • #12
Elven dimensions

That's where they hide with the pixies and such. :P
 

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