Extra Dimensions in Space and Time

ISBN-13: 9781461425328 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 218 str.

Itzhak Bars; John Terning; Farzad Nekoogar

Opis

In physics, the idea of extra spatial dimensions originates from Nordstom's 5-dimensional vector theory in 1914, followed by Kaluza-Klein theory in 1921, in an effort to unify general relativity and electromagnetism in a 5 dimensional space-time (4 dimensions for space and 1 for time). Kaluza-Klein theory didn't generate enough interest with physicist for the next five decades, due to its problems with inconsistencies. With the advent of supergravity theory (the theory that unifies general relativity and supersymmetry theories) in late 1970's and eventually, string theories (1980s) and M-theory (1990s), the dimensions of space-time increased to 11 (10-space and 1-time dimension). There are two main features in this book that differentiates it from other books written about extra dimensions: The first feature is the coverage of extra dimensions in time (Two Time physics), which has not been covered in earlier books about extra dimensions. All other books mainly cover extra spatial dimensions. The second feature deals with level of presentation. The material is presented in a non-technical language followed by additional sections (in the form of appendices or footnotes) that explain the basic equations and formulas in the theories. This feature is very attractive to readers who want to find out more about the theories involved beyond the basic description for a layperson. The text is designed for scientifically literate non-specialists who want to know the latest discoveries in theoretical physics in a non-technical language. Readers with basic undergraduate background in modern physics and quantum mechanics can easily understand the technical sections. Part I starts with an overview of the Standard Model of particles and forces, notions of Einstein's special and general relativity, and the overall view of the universe from the Big Bang to the present epoch, and covers Two-Time physics. 2T-physics has worked correctly at all scales of physics, both macroscopic and microscopic, for which there is experimental data so far. In addition to revealing hidden information even in familiar "everyday" physics, it also makes testable predictions in lesser known physics regimes that could be analyzed at the energy scales of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN or in cosmological observations." Part II of the book is focused on extra dimensions of space. It covers the following topics: The Popular View of Extra Dimensions, Einstein and the Fourth Dimension, Traditional Extra Dimensions, Einstein's Gravity, The Theory Formerly Known as String, Warped Extra Dimensions, and How Do We Look For Extra Dimensions?

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"Popular expositions of scientific topics have an important role in informing the general public of the nature/implications of current research. This is always a difficult task, especially for the highly abstract and very complicated topics addressed here. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students." (M. Coplan, Choice, Vol. 48 (2), October, 2010)

"The origin of this book lies in two public lectures given by the authors for a general public, under the auspices of multiversal journeys, a non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating knowledge on current theoretical physics to the general public. ... It certainly is to be welcomed that leading theoretical physicists make an effort to communicate their research to the general public. This book demonstrates how to succeed in such an endeavour." (Michael Kunzinger, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1207, 2011)

Spis treści

Two-Time Physics: The Unified View from Higher Dimensional Space and Time.- A First Look at the Known Universe.- Structure of Matter and Fundamental Forces.- What Is Space–Time?.- Symmetry and Perspective.- Why Higher Space or Time Dimensions?.- The Role of Extra Space Dimensions in String Theory.- Two-Time Physics.- Evidence of 4 + 2 as Subtle Effects in 3 + 1 Dimensions.- Fundamental Universe as a Shadow from 4 + 2 Dimensions.- Current Status of 2T-Physics and Future Directions.- Further Reading.- Extra Dimensions of Space.- The Popular View of Extra Dimensions.- Extra Material: The Equations Behind the Words.

O autorze

Professor John Terning - University of California, Davis

John Terning is Professor of Physics at University of California, Davis. He received his Ph.D. from University of Toronto and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University. He was also a researcher at Boston University, University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University. Professor Terning was a staff member at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. John Terning's research Interests include theoretical particle physics, electroweak symmetry breaking, supersymmetry, cosmology, extra dimensions, and AdS/CFT correspondence.

Professor Itzhak Bars, University of Southern California

Itzhak Bars is a Professor of Physics at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1971 and after postdoctoral research at the University of California at Berkeley he was appointed to the faculty of Stanford University in 1973. He returned to Yale University in 1975 as a faculty member
in the Physics Department, and after a decade he moved to the University of Southern California in 1984 to build a research group in High Energy Physics. He served as the director of the Caltech-USC Center for Theoretical Physics during 1999-2003. His visiting appointments include Harvard University, the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.

Professor Bars is a leading expert in symmetries in Physics, which he applies in much of his research on particle physics, field theory, string theory and mathematical physics in over 200 papers. He is the author of a book on "Quantum Mechanics" and co-editor of the books "Symmetry in Particle Physics" and "Strings '95, Future Perspectives in String Theory".  Some of his experimentally successful physics predictions include supersymmetry in large nuclei with even/odd numbers of nucleons, and the weak interaction contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, in the context of the quantized Standard Model, that was confirmed after 30 years. His contributions to the mathematics of supersymmetry are extensively used in several branches of physics and mathematics.

His current interests include String Field Theory, and Two-Time Physics which he originated in 1998.  In 2006 he established that all the physics we know today, as embodied in principle in the Standard Model of Particles and Forces, is better described by a two-time field theory in 4 space and 2 time dimensions projected as a shadow on an emergent 3 space and 1 time dimensions. His honors include Fellow of the American Physical Society, the First Award in the Gravity Research Foundation essay contest (shared with Chris Pope), Outstanding Junior Investigator Award by the Department of Energy, and the A. P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship.

Blurb

"…The Multiversal book series is equally unique, providing book-length extensions of the lectures with enough additional depth for those who truly want to explore these fields, while also providing the kind of clarity that is appropriate for interested lay people to grasp the general principles involved."

-Lawrence M. Krauss

 

The aim of this book is to continue to raise public awareness in the exciting field of theoretical physics and cosmology. It covers the latest theories at a level not weighed down by highly mathematical equations. Each chapter is written by a leading expert who is presently researching and lecturing on the topics.

Extra Dimensions in Space and Time has two main features that differentiate it from all other books written about the topic:

The first feature is the coverage of extra dimensions in time (Two-Time physics), which has not been covered in earlier books. All other books on the topic focus on extra spatial dimensions.

The second feature deals with level of presentation. The material is presented in a non-technical language followed by additional technical sections (in the form of appendices or footnotes) that explain the basic equations and formulas in the theories. This feature is very attractive to readers who want to learn more about the theories involved beyond the basic description for a layperson.

Topics Covered:

• Structure of matter & fundamental forces
• Einstein’s relativistic view of space-time
• Equivalence Principle and General Relativity
• Symmetry and perspective
• Why higher space or time dimensions?
• Extra space dimensions and String Theory
• Einstein and the Fourth Dimension
• Traditional Extra Dimensions
• String Theory and Branes
• Warped Extra Dimensions
• How to Look For Extra Dimensions?
• Extra Dimensions: The equations behind the words
• Two Time Physics
• Current status of 2T-Physics and future directions

Multiversal Journeys™ is a trademark of Farzad Nekoogar and Multiversal Journeys, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.