- 4010 - STRING THEORY - to explain gravity? Physicists have discovered a strange structure in space-time that to an outside observer would look exactly like a black hole, but upon closer inspection it would be defects in the very fabric of the universe.
------------------ 4010 - STRING THEORY - to explain gravity?
-
Einstein's general theory of relativity predicts the existence of black
holes, formed when giant stars collapse. But that same theory predicts that
their centers are “singularities”, which are points of infinite density.
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- Since
we know that infinite densities cannot actually happen in the universe, we take
this as a sign that Einstein's theory is incomplete. But after nearly a century
of searching for extensions, we have not yet confirmed a better theory of
gravity.
-
- A
candidate for a new theory is “string theory”. In string theory all the
particles of the universe are actually microscopic vibrating loops of string.
In order to support the wide variety of particles and forces that we observe in
the universe, these strings can't just vibrate in our three spatial dimensions.
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Instead, there have to be extra spatial dimensions that are curled up on
themselves into manifolds so small that they escape everyday notice and
experimentation.
-
- That
exotic structure in spacetime gave a team of researchers the tools they needed
to identify a new class of object, something that they call a topological
soliton. In their analysis they found that these topological solitons are
stable defects in space-time itself. They require no matter or other forces to
exist. They are as natural to the fabric
of space-time as cracks in ice.
-
- The
researchers studied these solitons by examining the behavior of light that
would pass near them. Because they are objects of extreme space-time, they bend
space and time around them, which affects the path of light.
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To a distant observer, these solitons would
appear exactly as we predict black holes to appear. They would have shadows,
rings of light, the works. Images derived from the Event Horizon Telescope and
detected gravitational wave signatures would all behave the same.-It's only
once you got close would you realize that you are not looking at a black hole.
One of the key features of a black hole is its “event horizon”, an imaginary
surface that if you were to cross it you would find yourself unable to escape.
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Topological solitons, since they are not singularities, do not feature
event horizons. So you could in principle go up to a soliton and hold it in
your hand, assuming you survived the encounter.
-
- These
topological solitons are incredibly hypothetical objects, based on our
understanding of string theory, which has not yet been proven to be a viable
update to our understanding of physics.
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- These
exotic objects serve as important test studies. If the researchers can discover
an important observational difference between topological solitons and
traditional black holes, this might pave the way to finding a way to test
string theory itself.
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May 17, 2023 STRING THEORY
- to explain gravity? 4017
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--------------------- --- Wednesday, May 17, 2023
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