 |
 |
An Introduction to String Theory
By Shelomo Alfassa / February 2005 (Posted Oct 05)
This essay was written after being inspired by listening to a lecture by
physicist Brian Greene who reopened my eyes to the wonder
and beauty of the natural world.
In 1905, Einstein created the quantum theory of light; the idea that light exists as tiny packets, or particles, that we now call photons. This was a most shocking idea in 20th-century physics. He then went on to produce a theory that helped prove something that was still controversial, that atoms did in fact exist. It has long been said that humans live in a universe built out of energy and matter. Einstein proved that energy and matter are linked and are essentially one and the same. From this theory, we are told an amazing statement—that that if 10 kilograms of matter (anything) spontaneously turned into energy, there would be enough energy to power a 100 Watt light bulb for 300 million years.
Einstein theorized that it should also be possible to convert matter into energy; he never saw it happen. Yet, in 1998 scientists took Einstein’s theory and made it a reality, creating matter from energy. From Einstein's theories, scientists were able to harness the energy of matter beginning in the 1940’s through nuclear fission. The most spectacular example of this was the atomic bombs dropped on Japan and their nuclear explosions.[1]
About a decade after Einstein's death, another theory, one that would surely have gotten his attention, was brought to the forefront of science; it is known simply as String Theory. If we look at something as common as a book, a rock, an apple, or anything else that exists, we can easily break it down into its building blocks. All matter is made up of complex structures of arranged molecules. Each molecule is itself made up of various atoms. Each of these Atoms consists of subatomic particles and components made up of Electrons that are surrounded by Protons and Neutrons. The latter two have been discovered to be made from even smaller components known as Quarks. But what is inside the Quark that makes up the Proton and Neutrons? In String Theory, subatomic components even smaller than Electrons and Protons are said to be made up of tiny vibrating loops of energy known as Strings.
String Theory says String energy oscillates not unlike strings on a violin. A violin can vibrate strings in different patterns, which our ear interprets as different sounds. In a similar manner, String Theory says that the vibration of the energy does not produce sound, but they produce the different particle species such as an Electron or Proton, etc. String Theory says that everything on earth and in the universe is based on these tiny vibrating strings of energy. Thus, if it oscillates a certain way, then from a distance, unable to tell it is really a string, we see an Electron. But if it oscillates some other direction, then we call it a Proton, etc.
The mass of the Electron, strength of gravity, the strength of electromagnetic force all have been measured. Scientists have made about twenty well-known measurements; yet, no one knows why the values expressed in these experiments are what they are. No one knows why an Electron weighs what it does, why certain components of matter have an unchanging set value. This has long been a subject of significant interest to the scientific world because these numbers, such as the weight of an Electron, etc. are critical.[2] This is because if any of these values were changed—even a tiny bit, the universe, as we know it would completely cease to exist.
The nuclear processes inside all stars (including our sun, our bodies, etc.) rely on these numbers to be absolute perfect and consistent. Why the numbers are what they are remains a mystery. Why are they so perfect that complex construction of atoms can occur, that stars can shine and that life can exist remains in obscurity.
According to mathematic equations that support String Theory, there are several dimensions that we have yet to identify. Physical objects such as people are free to move in three different directions, but String Theory proposes three may be as many as 26 dimensions. When strings vibrate into one of these extra dimensions, they produce a unique particle. This is like the way air vibrates when it moves through an instrument. Depending on how the chamber inside the instrument is manipulated, the outcome is a unique audible sound. Thus, String Theory says that when a string vibrates into a unique dimension, it produces a unique particle, as an example…an Electron. String Theory indicates that strings of vibrating energy seem to be the most fundamental building block in the universe.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Einstein suggested it should be possible to transform energy into matter, this was done in 1998 at Stanford University.
[2] Electron mass is 9.109 3826(16) × 10-31-31
RETURN HOME OR
SIGN THE GUESTBOOK