Testing String Theory: Implications for Gravitational Redshifting

In summary: LQG. It would also represent a severe problem for string/m-theory, as string theory in its current formulation presupposes lorentz invariance is an exact symmetry of nature, valid at all scales.
  • #1
Mike2
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So...
If the mass of a fermion is dependent of the frequency of vibrations of extended objects such as strings or membranes, etc, then wouldn't this frequency (and thus the mass) be subject to gravitational redshifting just as photons are? So shouldn't string/M-theory be just as easy to test as the gravitational redshifting of photons?
 
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  • #2
http://www.airynothing.com/high_energy_tutorial/detection/images/compton_scatter.gif

Compton scattering detector

Compton scattering happens when a photon interacts with an electron - the photon leaves the interaction with a lower energy and the electron has a higher energy. The energies of the outgoing photon and electron along with the angle at which these two leave the interaction allow determination of the energy and direction of the original photon.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/imgmod/radm.gif

You have to remember the temperature as you get closer to the source. What do these Gamma rays tell us?

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/introduction/em_same.gif

High energy particles have extremely small wavelengths and can probe subatomic distances: high energy particle accelerators serve as supermicroscopes:

http://hep.uchicago.edu/cdf/smaria/ms/aaas03_ms.pdf


"
If GLAST detects violations of lorentz invariance in the form of energy-dependent photons velocity, in agreement with theoretical calculations, such observations and such agreement would strongly support LQG. It would also represent a severe problem for string/m-theory, as string theory in its current formulation presupposes lorentz invariance is an exact symmetry of nature, valid at all scales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_quantum_gravity

So from this deduction supplied in last quoted paragraph?
 
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  • #3
Mike2 said:
So...
If the mass of a fermion is dependent of the frequency of vibrations of extended objects such as strings or membranes, etc, then wouldn't this frequency (and thus the mass) be subject to gravitational redshifting just as photons are? So shouldn't string/M-theory be just as easy to test as the gravitational redshifting of photons?
I suppose further that if rest mass is affected by gravitational redshifting, then the next thing to test would be whether the change in frequency/mass only changes by quantized amounts. This would prove the existence of the graviton, right? For the interaction with gravity is by the graviton, and if the particle lost mass, then that energy would have to travel away via the graviton. Or can the graviton assume any energy level? Thanks.

Hey look, they now have a spell checker. Great!
 
  • #5
Wait... if particles are strings or other extended objects that "vibrate" with some frequency, then it should be affected by the time dilation of Special Relativity. So whatever characteristic of strings or membranes that are determined by the frequency of some vibration should change near speeds approaching the speed of light, right? That sounds like an easy confirmation of string theory, or M-theory. Right?
 
  • #6
So what is this http://viswiz.imk.fraunhofer.de/~nikitin/course_practicum/applet.html that we have been reminded about?


I had been quoting a lot of information on Glast, and that if LQG was supported, how we might find strings falsified( I might have been to harsh here given following link). But you have to realize what Lqg is up against. It works the other way as well. :smile:


Nope. In 1905 Einstein taught us that small regions of spacetime respect Lorentz symmetry as exactly as they respect rotational invariance - and this statement is also verified experimentally - and all quantum field theories as well as string theory that were proposed later respected this
fact. There is no justification to give up Lorentz symmetry - the only reason might be an attempt to hide another problem showing that loop quantum gravity is inconsistent as a theory of spacetime.

http://www.lns.cornell.edu/spr/2003-10/msg0055518.html


LQG may make predictions that can be experimentally testable in the near future.

The path taken by a photon through a discrete spacetime geometry would be different from the path taken by the same photon through continuous spacetime. Normally, such differences should be insignificant, but http://www.rtn.lt/mi/0302/giovanni.jpg points out that photons which have traveled from distant galaxies may reveal the structure of spacetime. LQG predicts that more energetic photons should travel ever so slightly faster than less energetic photons. This effect would be too small to observe within our galaxy. However, light reaching us from gamma ray bursts in other galaxies should manifest a varying spectral shift over time. In other words, distant gamma ray bursts should appear to start off more bluish and end more reddish. Alternatively, highly energetic photons from gamma ray bursts should arrive a split second sooner than less energetic photons. LQG physicists eagerly await results from space-based gamma-ray spectrometry experiments (GLAST).

2007 will see the launch of GLAST, and (hopefully) the completion and operation of LHC. The results of these experiments will profoundly develop the course of QG. These experiments may establish spontaneously broken supersymmetry, Higgs boson and the Higgs field, extra spatial dimensions, and/or violations of Lorentz invariance.

If GLAST detects violations of Lorentz invariance in the form of energy-dependent photon velocity, in agreement with theoretical calculations, such observations would strongly support LQG. However, string theory would not necessarily be disfavoured, since although it predicts an underlying exact Lorentz symmetry, it is possible that this may be spontaneously broken through a nonzero expectation value of tensor fields.

Other topics where observation may affect the future theoretical development of quantum gravity are dark matter and dark energy.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_quantum_gravity
 
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  • #7
A Relativistic test of String Theory

Maybe the title should read: A Relativistic Test of String Theory.

Mike2 said:
Wait... if particles are strings or other extended objects that "vibrate" with some frequency, then it should be affected by the time dilation of Special Relativity. So whatever characteristic of strings or membranes that are determined by the frequency of some vibration should change near speeds approaching the speed of light, right? That sounds like an easy confirmation of string theory, or M-theory. Right?
 
  • #8
Mike2 said:
Wait... if particles are strings or other extended objects that "vibrate" with some frequency, then it should be affected by the time dilation of Special Relativity. So whatever characteristic of strings or membranes that are determined by the frequency of some vibration should change near speeds approaching the speed of light, right? That sounds like an easy confirmation of string theory, or M-theory. Right?

Could it be that no observable properties directly depend on the frequency of vibrating strings? Is the mass of a Superstring determined by the frequency of vibration, or does it depend on the mode of vibration? I suppose the actual mode of vibration is Lorentz invariant.
 
  • #9
the energy considerations leave a impression...as we look at the microscopic view of the particles nature, this energy leaks into the extra dimensions. Some, like to compare it to a string that vibrates... :smile:
 
  • #10
Mike2 said:
Wait... if particles are strings or other extended objects that "vibrate" with some frequency, then it should be affected by the time dilation of Special Relativity. So whatever characteristic of strings or membranes that are determined by the frequency of some vibration should change near speeds approaching the speed of light, right? That sounds like an easy confirmation of string theory, or M-theory. Right?
So here comes a vibrating string to collide with a stationary string. Is it a fact that the more these two strings have in common (same frequencies and amplitudes) the more likely it will be that they combine into one string? Is the cross section greater for like particles (or perhaps antiparticle) than for particles that have less in common? If this is so, and the frequency is slowed for relativistic incoming particles/strings, then it might be that the cross section is reduced with high speeds? What do you think?
 
  • #11
Is there a way around the M1 to m2 measure to test for dimensional recogniton of M theory. I pose this question here in thispost
 

1. What is string theory?

String theory is a theoretical framework in physics that aims to unify the four fundamental forces of nature (gravity, electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force) by describing them in terms of tiny, vibrating strings rather than point-like particles.

2. How does string theory relate to gravitational redshifting?

String theory predicts that at a fundamental level, the fabric of spacetime is made up of tiny strings. These strings have unique vibrational patterns that correspond to different particles and forces. Gravitational redshifting occurs when light or other electromagnetic radiation emitted from a source is stretched to longer wavelengths as it travels through a region of strong gravitational pull. String theory suggests that this phenomenon can be explained by the interactions between the strings and the gravitational field.

3. What implications does string theory have for our understanding of gravity?

String theory proposes that gravity is not a force between masses, as described by Newton's law of universal gravitation, but rather a curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass and energy. This is in line with Einstein's theory of general relativity, but string theory offers a more fundamental explanation for gravity by incorporating it into the fabric of spacetime itself.

4. How is string theory tested?

String theory is a highly complex and abstract theory that cannot be directly tested with current technology. However, scientists have been able to test some of its predictions, such as the existence of supersymmetric particles, through experiments at particle accelerators. They have also used mathematical models and simulations to explore the implications of string theory for phenomena such as gravitational redshifting and the behavior of black holes.

5. What are the potential implications of string theory for our understanding of the universe?

If string theory is proven to be correct, it would revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental laws of physics and the nature of the universe. It would provide a unified framework for describing all of the forces and particles in the universe, and could potentially lead to a deeper understanding of concepts such as dark matter and dark energy. It could also have practical applications, such as helping us develop new technologies and potentially even allowing us to manipulate the fabric of spacetime itself.

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