Superstring theory seems almost improbable but it strives to explain particle interactions with various forces of nature by modeling them as vibrations of super symmetric strings.
An excellent example is a violin string vibrating and resonating sound. Superstring theory claims reality consists of strings (Planck Length) which vibrate at certain resonant frequencies. Every one of these strings has a unique harmony and these different harmonies determine different fundamental forces.
Perhaps the most radical aspects of Superstring theories are their perceptions of space/time dimensions. Our physical space is believed to have 3 dimensions plus a 4th dimension- time. In contrast- string theories perceive space-time to have up to 26 dimensions.
Superstring theories depend heavily on topology- an extension of geometry and set theory that investigates the structure of a space. Today there are up to five dominant superstring theories- all of which are unified by M- theory. I will discuss M theory briefly in a later post.
Here is an interesting fact: there is a guy whom I believe is my distant cousin and works at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. Damn, if only I could figure this out! What are seriously the odds, dear, of a guy with the last name Buchleitner who is a cosmologist?
An excellent example is a violin string vibrating and resonating sound. Superstring theory claims reality consists of strings (Planck Length) which vibrate at certain resonant frequencies. Every one of these strings has a unique harmony and these different harmonies determine different fundamental forces.
Perhaps the most radical aspects of Superstring theories are their perceptions of space/time dimensions. Our physical space is believed to have 3 dimensions plus a 4th dimension- time. In contrast- string theories perceive space-time to have up to 26 dimensions.
Superstring theories depend heavily on topology- an extension of geometry and set theory that investigates the structure of a space. Today there are up to five dominant superstring theories- all of which are unified by M- theory. I will discuss M theory briefly in a later post.
Here is an interesting fact: there is a guy whom I believe is my distant cousin and works at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. Damn, if only I could figure this out! What are seriously the odds, dear, of a guy with the last name Buchleitner who is a cosmologist?
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