Some light reading

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:09 pm Post subject:

zarqun

A summary about that paper is something challenging. I would say some words about the quest itself.

Particles Physics:

- The evidences show that our world is governed by 4 FORCES: gravity, electromagnetism, strong nuclear and weak nuclear. These last two homing inside atomic nuclei: weak responsable for nuclear decay (radioactivity), strong for protons & neutrons formation from quarks.
- These forces act over some particles: the ones that, on a final account, make what we call matter. Rough spoken, they are FERMIONS (eletrons, quarks, neutrinos, etc).
- The physicists consider that the forces are carried by particles too. They are the BOSONS (photons, gluons, graviton???).
- The STANDARD MODEL (StdMod) describes the interactions between particles, based on a wise idea: that of symmetry transformations (SM). SM has to do with the ability of an operation produce the same phenomena even if you change the subjects of his acting.
- StdMod is a powerful mathematical workframe, based on a evolution of a pretty mathematical branch: Group Theory (initiated on XIX century by Abel & Galois - their histories are amazing per se - Galois died on a duel on his 20 years old)
- Although StdMod be a "mathematical toy", it made several predictions about particles behavior and allowed physicists to confirm those on experimental basis.
- StdMod provides UNIFICATION of 3 of the forces: Electromagnetism, Strong and Weak. Unify the forces means that they derive from a single force, which changed over time for some reason (broken symmetry, environmental changes, etc)
- StdMod has to do with QUANTUM PHYSICS (QF)

General Relativity (GR):

- While StdMod is about micro, GR is about macro. StdMod is about what we can't see for be too small. GR is about what we can't see for be too far, too fast or too big Wink

- GR is the big Einstein contribution for science, but he did not earn a Nobel for it Sad

- GR is about space, time, acceleration and gravity.
- Relativity (General and Special), among other pearls, says that there is no difference between acceleration and gravity attraction.
- Relativity also says that nothing could be faster than light.
- Relativity also says that light velocity is constant, no matter if you are moving at any velocity when you measure it's velocity.
- GR, basicaly, treats on GRAVITY (the 4th force)

The problem:

- StdMod doen't deal with gravity. GR doen't deal with particles.
- There are a lot of issues on cosmology (GR arena) that seems to be asking for a QF ground.
- There are a lot of issues on quantum world that need some gravity account.

The solution:

- Here, the seclution is a solution (i could not resist): there a a lot of scientist searching for the UNIFICATION of the 4 forces, on a struggle over heavy mathematics.

- ToE (Theory of Everything) is something like the Holy Graal of physics, where the 4 forces of nature are explained from a single one.
- There is no formal ToE. It's more a label for the quest.
- Quantum Gravity and String Theory are more "concrete" approaches.
- Quantum Gravity has more to do with StdMod. It's my fave approach.
- String Theory has more to do with pure math play. It burned almost 20 years of physics studies to produce no predictions, no testable propositions.

The War:

- Physics world is almost on a war. Scientists are bothered on String Theory quasi-monopoly.
- There are two excelent books about this: The Trouble with Physics (Lee Smolin) and Not Even Wrong (Peter Woit).

Conclusion:

- On physics today, all is much about mathematical skills.
- The math is too heavy.
- Some physicists are complaining about the lack of thoughts on more fundamental questions.
- Even mathematicians have difficulties to understand the whole approach.

Hope i had contributed somehow Peace

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject:

MAN, n. An animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be. His chief occupation is extermination of other animals and his own species, which, however, multiplies with such insistent rapidity as to infest the whole habitable earth and Canada.

(from Devil's Dictionary - http://www.thedevilsdictionary.com)

Very Happy

This girl knows everything Very Happy

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject:

Can you translate this? Mr. Green

P.S. Paul Erdos was simply a genious.