NAME: Rick Wagner
USERNAME: guardianlxxii
1. How does superstring (or super membrane) theory reconcile Einstein's
general theory of relativity with quantum mechanics? More precisely, how does
superstring theory reduce the four forces of the universe (name them) into
one super force?
We have currently identified four naturally occuring basic forces.
Three of these forces are modeled in a framework called Quantum Field Theory
(QFT):
strong nuclear force - bind protons and neutron
weak nuclear force - responsible for radioactive
decay
electromagnetic - light, magnetism, radiation
General Relativity covers one force (GR):
gravitational - keeps my ass on this couch
These forces describe the interaction of matter. And while QFT works
great on the Planck scale, and GR is fantastic for gravitational interaction,
you can't switch between the two. Quantum mechanics applied to
gravitons creates infinite forces, and gravity just doesn't work for partice
physics at a point, which is where particle interactions occur. Since
physicists feel obliged to have a graviton, a particle that transmits gravitational
force, they are trying to explain all of the forces, particles, ect., in terms
of a single model.
Superstring theory uses an object called a (duh) string
. The strings can be in one of two configurations, open or closed
(line or circle). A particle is "attached" to either end of the string,
one with mass (boson), one with energy (fermion). The string vibrates,
and the "note" playing on the string determines what kind of paricle the string
will be seen as (or how we will interpret it). I.e., a celestial D-minor
might be an electron, while a high C would be a photon.
Punchline: Every particle is contained in string
theory, it may take scientists ten dimensions, but they're there.