String theory - an introduction
“String theory” is one of those theories, which, if proved, would mark a milestone in the world of Physics. Here I will try to make a brief explanation about what is “string theory”, look at some of the scientific terms related to it, look at the brief history of development of “string theory” and finally, we will have a very simple and brief explanation about “string theory” which would be very helpful even to the beginners who don’t know much about the “string theory”.
The 4 fundamental forces united into one?!!!
We all know that there are 4 fundamental forces existing in nature, namely the most widely known gravitational force, electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force. We also know that one of the main thrusts of physics is unification of forces. Similarly, “string theory” is the theory, which tries to tie all these 4 fundamental forces into one.
We all know that there are 4 fundamental forces existing in nature, namely the most widely known gravitational force, electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force. We also know that one of the main thrusts of physics is unification of forces. Similarly, “string theory” is the theory, which tries to tie all these 4 fundamental forces into one.
Brief details of string theory
According to the “string theory”, all the particles are tiny vibrating strings and each type of vibrations also correspond to a different particle, that is the electrons and quarks within an atom are not 0(zero)-dimensional objects but rather 1-dimensional (length) oscillating lines or strings which vibrate, giving the particles their flavor, charge, mass and spin. Although the strings of “string theory” do not look like the strings of a violin, however the different particles are like the different notes that can be played by bowing a violin string. The following diagram represents matter magnified upto the string level:-
According to the “string theory”, all the particles are tiny vibrating strings and each type of vibrations also correspond to a different particle, that is the electrons and quarks within an atom are not 0(zero)-dimensional objects but rather 1-dimensional (length) oscillating lines or strings which vibrate, giving the particles their flavor, charge, mass and spin. Although the strings of “string theory” do not look like the strings of a violin, however the different particles are like the different notes that can be played by bowing a violin string. The following diagram represents matter magnified upto the string level:-
Levels of magnification:
1. Macroscopic level - Matter
2. Molecular level
3. Atomic level - Protons, neutrons, and electrons
4. Subatomic level - Electron
5. Subatomic level - Quarks
6. String level
1. Macroscopic level - Matter
2. Molecular level
3. Atomic level - Protons, neutrons, and electrons
4. Subatomic level - Electron
5. Subatomic level - Quarks
6. String level
Existence of extra dimensions
Also, another fascinating fact about “string theory” is that it requires us to accept the existence of 7 extra dimensions in the universe, excluding the 4 dimensions that we are familiar with, namely up-down (height), forwards-backwards (length), left-right (width) and time. Of course, a universe of 11 dimensions may seem very very strange, but even now, many physicists are thinking that these extra dimensions are possible and are going on looking for newer and newer ways to detect them.
History of string theory
5 major string theories were developed, each having different mathematical structures and each one could best describe different physical circumstances. All the 5 theories seemed to be correct but the main difference between these 5 theories was the number of dimensions in which the strings developed and their characteristics were also different. Finally, it was Edward Witten from the Institute for Advanced Study, who, in the early 1980s, considered that all the 5 previous major versions of the “string theory” might be representing the same phenomena from different perspectives. Then, resulted his M theory, which was a proposed unification of all previous superstring theories, asserting that strings are really 1-dimensional slices of a 2-dimensional membrane vibrating in an 11-dimensional space. But according to Tim Betwell, a research engineer working in Hong Kong, there is the possibility that not a single theory exists which can describe all the 4 fundamental forces in a neat and tidy manner, in the way that we like.
I hope that you would be at least benefited a little from my simple presentation on the vast topic of “string theory”.
SOURCES:
1.www.iop.org
2.www.aps.org
3.www.nobelprize.org
4.www.neonbubble.com
5.www.wikipedia.org
