When Do Strings Or Membranes Begin?

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In summary, string theory and brane theory do not address the origin of strings or branes. They simply assume their existence and focus on describing their behavior. These theories do not have a place in the current understanding of the universe since the big bang, but some string and brane theories propose a prior event to the big bang. However, the question of where these entities come from is not within the scope of particle physics.
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Silverbackman
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If strings or membranes are the most fundamental entity that cannot be divided further, where do these "particles" begin? Subatomic particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons can be further divided into quarks, fermions, leptons, gluons, bosons, ect. Do particle physicists believe that these smaller particles (quarks, ect.) are directly made of strings/membranes? Or do they leave the possibility that strings/membranes can be many particles down?

And how far are we from being able to see these tiny membranes which are said to be 10^-20 of a millimeter? How long will it take to actually make a microscope powerful enough to see something this small (so that we can observe and prove it)?
 
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Silverbackman said:
If strings or membranes are the most fundamental entity that cannot be divided further, where do these "particles" begin? Subatomic particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons can be further divided into quarks, fermions, leptons, gluons, bosons, ect. Do particle physicists believe that these smaller particles (quarks, ect.) are directly made of strings/membranes? Or do they leave the possibility that strings/membranes can be many particles down?

And how far are we from being able to see these tiny membranes which are said to be 10^-20 of a millimeter? How long will it take to actually make a microscope powerful enough to see something this small (so that we can observe and prove it)?

String theory does not itself say anything about the origin of strings or branes. Just as quantum theory does with particles, or quantum field theory with fields, it assumes them in being and sets out to describe their behavior.

As far as I know, string theory does not have a place in the usual account (confusingly called the "standard model of cosmology") of how the universe has fared since the big bang, if there was a big bang. There are string, or rather brane, accounts of a possible prior to the BB; one such is the ekpyrotic scenario, where two neighboring branes (whose origin is again not considered) every once in a while collide, causing a big bang-like phenomenon to happen in one of them.

In general "where things come from" is not a question well-fielded by any branch of the higher particle physics enterprise.
 
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I cannot provide a definitive answer to these questions as the concept of strings or membranes as the most fundamental entity is still a theoretical concept and has not been proven experimentally. However, I can provide some insights and explanations based on current scientific understanding.

Firstly, the idea of strings or membranes as the most fundamental entity is a concept in string theory, which is a theoretical framework that attempts to reconcile the theories of gravity and quantum mechanics. In this theory, strings or membranes are proposed to be the fundamental building blocks of the universe, rather than subatomic particles. However, this concept is still under active research and has not been proven experimentally yet.

In terms of the beginning of strings or membranes, it is believed that they have existed since the beginning of the universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the universe started as a singularity, a point of infinite density and temperature. As the universe expanded and cooled, particles and forces emerged, and it is believed that strings or membranes were also present at this early stage.

Regarding the question of whether particles such as quarks and leptons are made of strings or membranes, the answer is not clear. Some theories suggest that they are indeed composed of strings or membranes, while others propose that they are made of smaller entities known as "preons." However, these are still theoretical concepts and have not been proven yet.

Finally, in terms of being able to see these tiny membranes, it is currently not possible with our current technology. As you mentioned, these membranes are said to be 10^-20 of a millimeter, which is incredibly small and beyond the capability of our current microscopes. It is difficult to predict when or if we will be able to observe and prove the existence of strings or membranes, as it depends on the advancement of technology and further research in this area.

In conclusion, the concept of strings or membranes as the most fundamental entity is still a theoretical concept and has not been proven experimentally. While some theories propose that they are the building blocks of the universe, it is still a topic of active research and further experiments are needed to confirm their existence. As for the ability to observe and prove their existence, it is currently not possible with our current technology, but advancements in technology and further research may lead to new insights and discoveries in the future.
 

1. When do strings or membranes begin to form?

The exact time at which strings or membranes begin to form is not fully understood, as it is highly dependent on the specific conditions and environment in which they are forming. However, it is generally believed that strings or membranes begin to form during the early stages of the universe, approximately 10^-36 seconds after the Big Bang.

2. What is the significance of strings or membranes in the universe?

Strings and membranes play a crucial role in some of the most fundamental theories in physics, such as string theory and M-theory. They are believed to be the building blocks of the universe and may help explain the fundamental forces and particles that make up our world.

3. How are strings or membranes different from traditional particles?

Strings and membranes are different from traditional particles in that they are one-dimensional objects, while particles are zero-dimensional. This means that strings and membranes have length and can vibrate, while particles do not. Additionally, strings and membranes are believed to be the fundamental building blocks of particles.

4. Can strings or membranes be observed or detected?

Currently, there is no experimental evidence for the existence of strings or membranes, as they are theorized to be much smaller than the smallest particles we can currently observe. However, scientists are working on experiments and technologies that may one day be able to detect these objects.

5. Are there any practical applications for understanding strings or membranes?

While the study of strings and membranes is still in its early stages, there are some potential practical applications that may arise from a better understanding of these objects. For example, string theory may lead to advancements in areas such as quantum computing and the development of new materials with unique properties.

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