- #1
Kevin_Axion
- 912
- 3
This article looks very interesting and shows how there is still experimental hope for String Theory: http://www.physorg.com/news202553083.html
New Study Suggests a Test for String Theory
- Context: Graduate
- Thread starter Kevin_Axion
- Start date
-
- Tags
- String String theory Study Test Theory
Click For Summary
SUMMARY
The discussion centers on the recent study regarding string theory and its implications for four-qubit entanglement. The initial press release from Imperial College London exaggerated the findings, suggesting a test for string theory, which was later retracted and rephrased to indicate a mere application of string theory mathematics rather than a fundamental test. The paper, available on arXiv as of May, does not provide a verification of string theory but rather applies its mathematical techniques to quantum information theory. Critics, including Woit, emphasize that this does not constitute a falsifiable test of string theory.
PREREQUISITES- Understanding of string theory and its mathematical framework
- Familiarity with quantum mechanics and entanglement concepts
- Knowledge of the AdS/CFT correspondence in theoretical physics
- Experience with interpreting scientific press releases and academic papers
- Read the preprint "Four-qubit entanglement from string theory" on arXiv
- Explore the implications of AdS/CFT correspondence in condensed matter physics
- Investigate the historical context of press releases related to string theory tests
- Study the mathematical techniques used in string theory applications to quantum information theory
The discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, quantum information researchers, and anyone interested in the intersection of string theory and quantum mechanics.
- #2
marcus
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Dearly Missed
- 24,752
- 795
That "test" was already debunked 27 May.
http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=2977
The preprint came out in May. Here it is:
http://arxiv.org/abs/1005.4915
Four-qubit entanglement from string theory
The press release from Imperial College contains some hype. Over interpreting the paper (which was just published) as a test of string as fundamental physics. Often times a public relations department will puff something up around the time the paper is published in journal.
So when the public relations release came out, and was picked up by, for example, PhysOrg (where you saw it) Woit blogged again about it:
http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=3127
Interestingly enough the PR department at Imperial College London then pulled in their horns!
They actually changed the title of the press release to something a bit more reserved:The original title on the press release has been changed. It used to be “New study suggests researchers can now test the ‘theory of everything’”.
The new title does not say "test". Now it’s “New study presents unexpected discovery that string theory may predict the behaviour of entangled quantum particles.”
In other words, it is not a test of Superstring as a fundamental theory of matter or a "ToE". It is an application of some stringy mathematics to calculate stuff in quantum information theory--typically larger scale behavior. String has a repertory of math techniques that have already been used to study largescale stuff: superconductivity (a branch of condensed matter physics) and nuclear physics (not fundamental particle).
In this case it seems the calculation had already been done by other means, but stringy math was applied, and also succeeded.
Woit's comment:
http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=2977
The preprint came out in May. Here it is:
http://arxiv.org/abs/1005.4915
Four-qubit entanglement from string theory
The press release from Imperial College contains some hype. Over interpreting the paper (which was just published) as a test of string as fundamental physics. Often times a public relations department will puff something up around the time the paper is published in journal.
So when the public relations release came out, and was picked up by, for example, PhysOrg (where you saw it) Woit blogged again about it:
http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=3127
Interestingly enough the PR department at Imperial College London then pulled in their horns!
They actually changed the title of the press release to something a bit more reserved:The original title on the press release has been changed. It used to be “New study suggests researchers can now test the ‘theory of everything’”.The new title does not say "test". Now it’s “New study presents unexpected discovery that string theory may predict the behaviour of entangled quantum particles.”
In other words, it is not a test of Superstring as a fundamental theory of matter or a "ToE". It is an application of some stringy mathematics to calculate stuff in quantum information theory--typically larger scale behavior. String has a repertory of math techniques that have already been used to study largescale stuff: superconductivity (a branch of condensed matter physics) and nuclear physics (not fundamental particle).
In this case it seems the calculation had already been done by other means, but stringy math was applied, and also succeeded.
Woit's comment:
Last edited:
- #3
Kevin_Axion
- 912
- 3
Thanks for the clarification, in the article it does specify that 4-qubit entanglement patterns described by Superstring Theory/M-Theory can't qualify as a verification of Superstring Theory. It says that this is merely a use of Superstring Theory/M-Theory Gravitational Physics to 4-qubit entanglement, this is symmetric to AdS/CFT describing high-temperature superconductors which is constantly being published but not a verification of Superstring Theory/M-Theory. In order to make the title as concise without departing from the article itself I just used what was said in the title.
Thanks, Kevin
Thanks, Kevin