Extra Dimensions: What Do They Look Like?

[Liger20]

Scientists and mathematicians speak of extra dimensions that are "curled up" so small that it is impossible to detect them, but what exactly would an extra dimension look like? I realize that these extra dimensions have been detected mathematically, but the entire concept of something going in a different direction than it is possible to go in our universe of three spatial dimensions is extremely hard to comprehend. Has anyone ever been able to offer insight into what these extra dimensions look like?

 

[Voltage]

Check out "calabi yau", Liger.

But please don't assume that everybody thinks all these extra dimensions exist. For example, I was just reading this thread, and have printed out the papers to read offline.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=177268

 

[Nariad]

You can read more about simple explanations of extra dimensions in this issue of Symmetry magazine. http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000237
and
http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000143

I translated the latter article and others for our Romanian portal of particle physics popularization at Clubul Fizica particulelelor:portal romanesc de popularizare a fizicii particulelor: http://fizicaparticulelor.ro

 

[chrisina]

Nariad, thanks for the two articles. However, please note the difference between the two :

In my opinion, the second one, by Sean Carroll, gives some good elements of answer to the original question from Liger20. Also, note the sentence :

"String theory requires the existence of extra dimensions. Perhaps we will be fortunate enough to detect them directly in upcoming experiments, or infer their existence from early-universe cosmology."

Sean Carroll is a world renowned cosmologist.

The first one, by Kelen Tuttle, is much more "propaganda like". Kelen is a journalist, a staff writer in symmetry magazine and works in the communications dept of the SLAC.
She writes in the article that you have kindly linked to :

"Although we now think of the universe as three bulky, nearly-flat dimensions, we might soondiscover that the fabric of space-time consists of many more dimensions than we ever dreamed."

Please note the difference between the underlined parts.

 

[Nariad]

Thanks for replying. Indeed, there is a difference between the two. As in every theory, there are people who believe in it more or less. Technically speaking, both expressed a probability, not a certainty: "might" and "could". But yes, everything you read should be taken with a grain of salt and many sources should be compared.:)

Adrian Buzatu, Clubul Fizica Particulelor http://fizicaparticulelor.ro