Author: Jim Baggott Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 019253680X Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 320
Book Description
Today we are blessed with two extraordinarily successful theories of physics. The first is Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, which describes the large-scale behaviour of matter in a curved spacetime. This theory is the basis for the standard model of big bang cosmology. The discovery of gravitational waves at the LIGO observatory in the US (and then Virgo, in Italy) is only the most recent of this theory's many triumphs. The second is quantum mechanics. This theory describes the properties and behaviour of matter and radiation at their smallest scales. It is the basis for the standard model of particle physics, which builds up all the visible constituents of the universe out of collections of quarks, electrons and force-carrying particles such as photons. The discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN in Geneva is only the most recent of this theory's many triumphs. But, while they are both highly successful, these two structures leave a lot of important questions unanswered. They are also based on two different interpretations of space and time, and are therefore fundamentally incompatible. We have two descriptions but, as far as we know, we've only ever had one universe. What we need is a quantum theory of gravity. Approaches to formulating such a theory have primarily followed two paths. One leads to String Theory, which has for long been fashionable, and about which much has been written. But String Theory has become mired in problems. In this book, Jim Baggott describes ": an approach which takes relativity as its starting point, and leads to a structure called Loop Quantum Gravity. Baggott tells the story through the careers and pioneering work of two of the theory's most prominent contributors, Lee Smolin and Carlo Rovelli. Combining clear discussions of both quantum theory and general relativity, this book offers one of the first efforts to explain the new quantum theory of space and time.
Author: Claus Birkholz Publisher: BookRix ISBN: 3736855842 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 189
Book Description
Apply yesterday's variation principle to Gell-Mann's quarks, pepper it with the inconsistencies of unfounded ad-hoc tactics - and there you are with grandpa's classical "Standard" model having no strategy, no future, topped only by "string" fantasies "beyond" physics, with all the great questions left open. By marrying Planck's quanta with Einstein's General Relativity, the author is presenting the unified top-down model of a consistent "New Physics" (Quantum Gravity, including the Grand Unification) free of singularities and in accord with experiment. Space-time is bent, fully quantized and "background-independent". Old problems of fundamental physics emerge as self-explaining: 4-dimensionality, the quark confinement, flavours, cosmic inflation, the arrow of time, the physics of Black Holes with their event horizons, the origins of (ordinary and dark) matter, and much more is dropping out as self-evident properties of nature. Future starts to-day. Come along on the journey! The amazing success of "New Physics"/"Neue Physik" (with almost 10.000 copies sold in a single year) gave rise to this extended, 2nd edition renamed "Flow of Time". Main target groups: Students, physicists, mathematicians, but also people interested in philosophy or with an inclination to leave the beaten dead-end tracks of actual fundamental models of the old style in favour of more promising, novel ways.
Author: Stephen Blaha Publisher: Pingree-Hill Publishing ISBN: 0974695831 Category : Mathematics Languages : en Pages : 224
Book Description
This groundbreaking book develops a new form of quantum theory. First there was quantum mechanics. Then there was quantum field theory. Now we have quantum theory of the third kind: a new form of quantum field theory with quantum coordinates in the imaginary part of a complex space-time. This book is the second edition of ?A Finite Unified Quantum Field Theory of the Elementary Particle Standard Model and Quantum Gravity? with major additions on unitarity, relativistic invariance and the nature of space-time. Some major new results in this books are: A Unified Theory of QED, Weak Interactions, Strong Interactions and Quantum Gravity; A General Formulation of Divergence-free Quantum Field Theories (Detailed discussions of unitarity and special relativity showing these theories are physically acceptable.). A divergence-free quantum field theory for massive vector bosons: No need for the Higgs mechanism. The "Low Energy" Limit of elementary particle sector of unified theory approximates the Standard Model (& QED) to extreme accuracy. It suggests possible doubly charged dilepton, and other exotic, resonances. The "Large Distance", classical limit of Quantum Gravity sector is General Relativity. It suggests no ultra-light Black Holes exist. Gravity is repulsive (anti-gravity) at ultra-short distances. Two-tier gravity ?saves? the concept of a space-time point by evading Wigner?s classic argument against it. Based on experimental data a preferred local reference frame defined by Cosmic Background Radiation is shown to exist in each locale. (Preferred local inertial frames are used in two-tier quantum gravity whose dynamical equations are invariant under general relativistic transformations but whose ?ground state? breaks the invariance down to invariance under special relativity.) A New form of hidden dimensions is defined ? Quantum Dimensions ? dimensions implemented via a quantum gauge field. A New method in the Calculus of Variations ? composition of extrema ? is described.
Author: Wouter Schmitz Publisher: Springer ISBN: 3030128784 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 321
Book Description
How can fundamental particles exist as waves in the vacuum? How can such waves have particle properties such as inertia? What is behind the notion of “virtual” particles? Why and how do particles exert forces on one another? Not least: What are forces anyway? These are some of the central questions that have intriguing answers in Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model of Particle Physics. Unfortunately, these theories are highly mathematical, so that most people - even many scientists - are not able to fully grasp their meaning. This book unravels these theories in a conceptual manner, using more than 180 figures and extensive explanations and will provide the nonspecialist with great insights that are not to be found in the popular science literature.
Author: Stuart Raby Publisher: Cambridge University Press ISBN: 1108661343 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 650
Book Description
The Standard Model of particle physics is an amazingly successful theory describing the fundamental particles and forces of nature. This text, written for a two-semester graduate course on the Standard Model, develops a practical understanding of the theoretical concepts it's built upon, to prepare students to enter research. The author takes a historical approach to demonstrate to students the process of discovery which is often overlooked in other textbooks, presenting quantum field theory and symmetries as the necessary tools for describing and understanding the Standard Model. He develops these tools using a basic understanding of quantum mechanics and classical field theory, such as Maxwell's electrodynamics, before discussing the important role that Noether's theorem and conserved charges play in the theory. Worked examples feature throughout the text, while homework exercises are included for the first five parts, with solutions available online for instructors. Inspired by the author's own teaching experience, suggestions for independent research topics have been provided for the second-half of the course, which students can then present to the rest of the class.
Author: Behram N. Kursunogammalu Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media ISBN: 0306471043 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 233
Book Description
Held December 16-19, 1999, these proceedings are derived from the Global Foundation Inc.'s Orbis Scientiae 1999. Topics include: cosmological parameters; unifying elementary particle physics; cosmology; superstrings; and black holes.
Author: Claus Birkholz Publisher: BookRix ISBN: 3739630108 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 329
Book Description
Space, time, matter - what really is all that? What are charges, what flavours? What is preventing time from running backwards? Quantum Gravity is describing all that - consisely, comprehensively, to the point. The Grand Unified Theory (GUT = ToE = "Theory of Everything"), finally, is caring for the rest by relating all forces of nature to each other. Parities are the peep-holes into strange worlds before the Big Bang and beyond the event horizon. Everything is calculable, even the transitions there. By working out the value of the fine-structure constant, theory opens to recognizing Dark Matter as the cradle of visible matter; the GUT is demonstrating birth and properties of ordinary matter out of Dark Matter and by what its creation process is stopped again. A totally novel assessment is arising with respect to neutrino oscillations. Pauli's principle explains physically. Einstein's cosmological constant is demystified. Dark Energy, cosmic inflation, the number of dimensions we are living in are not any more dully accepted from outside - theory is deriving all that. As a matter of fact, the gateway to developing Quantum Gravity has been widely open since Einstein, Planck, and Dirac. Only, nobody has passed its threshold; nuclear fission had changed priorities. Then, Gell-Mann had knocked at the door of the GUT. This time, however, it was the "Standard" model to crash the door back into its frame, and the string model sealed the lock. - Meanwhile, the model succeeded in smuggling into the open underneath the feet of its jailers, ready for being applied more extensively.
Author: Matthew Robinson Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media ISBN: 1441982671 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 343
Book Description
While theoretical particle physics is an extraordinarily fascinating field, the incredibly fast pace at which it moves along, combined with the huge amount of background information necessary to perform cutting edge research, poses a formidable challenge for graduate students. This book represents the first in a series designed to assist students in the process of transitioning from coursework to research in particle physics. Rather than reading literally dozens of physics and mathematics texts, trying to assimilate the countless ideas, translate notations and perspectives, and see how it all fits together to get a holistic understanding, this series provides a detailed overview of the major mathematical and physical ideas in theoretical particle physics. Ultimately the ideas will be presented in a unified, consistent, holistic picture, where each topic is built firmly on what has come before, and all topics are related in a clear and intuitive way. This introductory text on quantum field theory and particle physics provides both a self-contained and complete introduction to not only the necessary physical ideas, but also a complete introduction to the necessary mathematical tools. Assuming minimal knowledge of undergraduate physics and mathematics, this book lays both the mathematical and physical groundwork with clear, intuitive explanations and plenty of examples. The book then continues with an exposition of the Standard Model of Particle Physics, the theory that currently seems to explain the universe apart from gravity. Furthermore, this book was written as a primer for the more advanced mathematical and physical ideas to come later in this series.
Author: Jim Baggott
Author: Nigel Cook
Author: Claus Birkholz
Author: Stephen Blaha
Author: Jácome Armas
Author: Wouter Schmitz
Author: Stuart Raby
Author: Behram N. Kursunogammalu
Author: Claus Birkholz
Author: Matthew Robinson