High School What ever happened to Classical Unified Field Theory?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rick16
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Field Theory
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Current professional physicists are actively engaged in the pursuit of a unified field theory (UFT) that seeks to reconcile gravitational and electromagnetic fields, despite some skepticism regarding its feasibility. The discussion critiques Einstein's nonsymmetric UFT, labeling it as flawed due to improper handling of connection components in differential geometry. The term "indexology" is introduced to describe the perceived misuse of indices in this context. Overall, while the quest for a classical UFT continues, opinions on its viability vary significantly among experts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of classical field theory concepts
  • Familiarity with differential geometry and connection components
  • Knowledge of Einstein's theories, particularly general relativity
  • Awareness of current research trends in theoretical physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research contemporary approaches to unified field theory in physics
  • Explore the implications of differential geometry in modern theoretical frameworks
  • Study critiques of Einstein's nonsymmetric UFT and alternative theories
  • Investigate the role of indices in mathematical physics and their significance
USEFUL FOR

The discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, students of physics, and anyone interested in the ongoing debates surrounding unified field theories and their mathematical foundations.

Rick16
Messages
158
Reaction score
46
TL;DR
What happened to unified field theory?
Are there currently professional physicists who work on Einstein’s quest to unify the gravitational field and the electromagnetic field (as classical fields), or has this idea been completely abandoned? Is it simply a hopeless endeavour?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If you're referring to Einstein's "nonsymmetric UFT", well,... imho it's total rubbish. His cavalier manipulations of the two lower indices on the connection components shows that he didn't really understand the true purpose of the connection object in the context of differential geometry. It's "indexology" (where I invent that term in analogy to "numerology"). :oldfrown:
 

Similar threads

High School Questions about the Universe: Positive & negative fields and effects
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Classical Unified Field Theory
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Graduate Were there any valid classical unified field theories ?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Classical Field Theory - Something isn't clicking
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Graduate Form of energy momentum tensor of matter in EM fields
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Undergrad Einstein's Pursuit of Unified Theory: Motivation and Observations
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad What happened to Susskind's Quantum Field Theory lectures at Stanford?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Undergrad Wire loop in a static homogeneous field question
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Possible research directions for a beginner in TQFT
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate New ideas on confinement and meson masses from Brazil
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K