STRING THEORY

Written by Michael Suherman

Design and edit by Rebecca Sopacua
 Scientists have come up with the
quantum field theory which
marries the idea of other
quantum theories. This includes
quantum electrodynamics, the
unified “electroweak” theory of
electromagnetism and weak
nuclear force such as beta
decays, and quantum
chromodynamics, the theory of
strong nuclear force, the strong
short-range force which binds
quarks together to make
particles such as protons and
STRING THEORY neutrons at the atomic level.

GRAVITY

However, there is one problem

stopping quantum field theory
from explaining everything in
our universe, that field theory
has failed to work with gravity.

String theory, also known as the

“theory of everything”, is quite a
new science that includes
uncommon ideas such as
superstrings, branes and extra
dimensions. It is hoped that
string theory can bridge the gap
between quantum field theory
and gravity to be the “theory of
everything”.
STRING THEORY
 String Theory attempts to
represent all objects in our
universe with vibrating
filaments (strings) and
membranes (branes) of energy.
These strings are
one-dimensional and vibrate at
specific resonant frequencies,
BRANE with Planck length (10-35 m).
These strings are said to live in
more than 4 dimensions (up to
26) but these dimensions are
stuck within the Planck length.
Branes, on the other hand, can
have many more dimensions.
Some studies have suggested
that our universe is within a
STRINGS 3-brane (3-dimensional brane).

String theory states that there CALABI YAU

must exist several extra
dimensions that are
unobservable. Scientists would
attempt to prove phenomena
with more than 3 dimensions,
and then try to eliminate the
excess dimensions down to the 3
we live in using Calabi-Yau
manifolds, a type of manifold
DIMENSIONS
which can take the form of many
dimensions, but it has not
succeeded until now. A
6-dimensional Calabi has still
led to the idea of mirror
symmetry, in which two objects
that look very geometrically
different but are equivalent
when extra dimensions are
incorporated.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE
Scientists in string theory have
been experimenting whether
there exists a landscape of string
theory solutions to a certain
problem/phenomena. Under this
case, the possibility of parallel
universes may exist.

Although only taking off in the late 20th century, string theory has already
had some historical breakthroughs.

In 1970, string theory was GABRIEL VENEZIANO

created when Gabriele
Veneziano’s dual resonance
model is interpreted as a
universe of vibrating strings.
In 1971, supersymmetry was
merged, creating superstring
theory.
In 1985, a heterotic string, a
closed hybrid of a superstring
and a bosonic string (bosonic
strings are in 25 spatial
dimensions), making heterotic
string theory.

EDWARD WITTEN JOSEPH POLCHINSKI

In 1995, Edward Witten put Also in 1995, Joe Polchinski
forth his theory to unify all 5 shows the definite existence
variations of string theory at of branes in string theory.
that time into one.
 Finally in 1996, String theory is
used to analyze black hole
thermodynamics, matching
earlier predictions from other
methods, proving to be useful.

BLACK HOLE

Still a work in progress, String theory is a relatively young science that hasn’t
reached its potential. Scientists hope that someday in the near future, string
theory will be able to explain all phenomena and mysteries in our entire
universe.
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