Quantum gravity
- California State Univ., San Bernardino (United States)
General relativity and quantum mechanics are the two great pillars that form the foundation of 20th-century physics, and yet their precepts assume two different kinds of universe. Are the two theories compatible Can they ever be reconciled in a self-consistent theory of quantum gravity The pursuit of quantum gravity poses an immense challenge to theorists. The application of standard ideas to the quantization of gravity either yields nonsensical theories or else requires mathematical techniques that have yet to be developed. Even so, the efforts have borne some fruit. Hawking radiation, for example, reveals the presence of a deep connection between quantum field theory, gravity and thermodynamics. A quantum theory of gravity may even explain the dimensions of space-time and the coupling constants observed. The standard ideas, however, may not be sufficiently radical to solve the problem. The author includes himself among a small group of theorists who feel that substantial changes in quantum theory or general relativity are needed to achieve a fundamental synthesis. Some believe that quantum theory must be modified; others feel that general relativity must go; still others feel that both must be replaced. It is, of course, easy to discard theories. The problem is to propose something in their stead.
- OSTI ID:
- 6892669
- Journal Information:
- American Scientist; (United States), Vol. 79:6; ISSN 0003-0996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Topics in Theoretical Physics
Beyond the Standard Model
Related Subjects
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71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
QUANTUM GRAVITY
BASIC INTERACTIONS
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INTERMEDIATE VECTOR BOSONS
LEPTONS
LIGHT CONE
QUANTIZATION
QUANTUM MECHANICS
QUARKS
SPACE-TIME
UNIFIED-FIELD THEORIES
BOSONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FIELD THEORIES
INTERACTIONS
INTERMEDIATE BOSONS
MECHANICS
POSTULATED PARTICLES
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
662210* - Specific Theories & Interaction Models
Particle Systematics- Unified Theories & Models- (1992-)
661310 - Relativity & Gravitation- (1992-)