- #1
hyksos
- 37
- 12
Modern physics is comprised of a quartet of theory specializations.
I. Classical Physics + Special Relativity S.R.
II. Quantum Mechanics. QM
III. Quantum Field Theory QFT
IV. General Relativity GR
Under what practical conditions do the predictions of each of these theories become salient? I plan to put together a diagram plot of Temperature against size scales exhibiting the extreme conditions required for the modern theories to start to describe observed phenomena. But I want it to be fit for a textbook, so I want my numbers to be truthful to the discipline of physics.
This figure is not a claim on my part. It is likely very wrong right now. That's fine. This is just a back-of-napkin drawing I threw together in a few minutes.
DomainsOFphysics.png
The final diagram should exhibit the following attributes to the viewer :
1 "Quantum Gravity" will be a razor-thin section along the bottom and righthand side of diagram, likely with an arrow pointing at a tiny gap. This should show the extremes required before that theory is needed to make practical predictions.
2. The section CLASSICAL PHYSICS will take up the vast majority of the diagram's space on the page. This should jump out at the reader. The vast majority of phenomenon in our daily lives is adequately described by classical physics.
3. Astronomical temperatures are required before the effects of QFT become "salient" to the unfolding physics. But also very tiny size scales. There is some confusion on the lefthand side here regarding temperatures. I hope we can hash this out in comments.
Notice there is a slight rise in the QM section approaching zero kelvin. Some recent lab experiments have put aluminum nitride cantilevers into a superposition, and the popular articles headlined this as "Macro-scale drumhead placed into superposition". This is a problem regarding at which size scale do the effects of QM "cut off"? Or do they cut off? As far as we know, the cantilevers were placed under high vacuum and cooled to something like 10^-7 Kelvin. But I am willing to make some changes there if someone really pushes back.
Your thoughts?
I. Classical Physics + Special Relativity S.R.
II. Quantum Mechanics. QM
III. Quantum Field Theory QFT
IV. General Relativity GR
Under what practical conditions do the predictions of each of these theories become salient? I plan to put together a diagram plot of Temperature against size scales exhibiting the extreme conditions required for the modern theories to start to describe observed phenomena. But I want it to be fit for a textbook, so I want my numbers to be truthful to the discipline of physics.
This figure is not a claim on my part. It is likely very wrong right now. That's fine. This is just a back-of-napkin drawing I threw together in a few minutes.
DomainsOFphysics.png
The final diagram should exhibit the following attributes to the viewer :
1 "Quantum Gravity" will be a razor-thin section along the bottom and righthand side of diagram, likely with an arrow pointing at a tiny gap. This should show the extremes required before that theory is needed to make practical predictions.
2. The section CLASSICAL PHYSICS will take up the vast majority of the diagram's space on the page. This should jump out at the reader. The vast majority of phenomenon in our daily lives is adequately described by classical physics.
3. Astronomical temperatures are required before the effects of QFT become "salient" to the unfolding physics. But also very tiny size scales. There is some confusion on the lefthand side here regarding temperatures. I hope we can hash this out in comments.
Notice there is a slight rise in the QM section approaching zero kelvin. Some recent lab experiments have put aluminum nitride cantilevers into a superposition, and the popular articles headlined this as "Macro-scale drumhead placed into superposition". This is a problem regarding at which size scale do the effects of QM "cut off"? Or do they cut off? As far as we know, the cantilevers were placed under high vacuum and cooled to something like 10^-7 Kelvin. But I am willing to make some changes there if someone really pushes back.
Your thoughts?