vol 2: Synopsis
part IV: Divine dynamics
page 31: Physics
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Physics
We have now seen physics in two guises: the classical dress first designed by Galileo and Newton, and modern quantum field theory, which models the universe with outstanding precision although we do not fully understand it. Let us turn to our new picture, the transfinite network, and bring it down to earth. We do this by postulating that the symmetries or conservation laws of physics are images of the boundaries imposed on the transfinite network by consistency, that is by communication. We begin with spacetime and the quantum theory.
For much of its history, physics has been the study of 'dead' matter, and it has been believed that something extra ('soul') must be added to matter to create life. Here we take the view that the whole universe is alive, and that physics, as we experience it, is simply the conversation of the simpler elements of the universe. The recursive nature of these converations allows them to build upon one another to form more and more complex entitites, such as those we normally call life.
The transfinite network is layered. Unlike artificial communication networks, which have up to seven layers, the transfinite network has an infinity of layers, each building on the complexity of the layers beneath it. We propose that lowest, countable layer of the transfinite network corresponds to physics.
The lowest layer of the transfinite network is also that of highest energy. One of the discoveries of quantum physics is that many of the internal states of any item do not manifest themselves until one reaches a certain energy level. Thus a hydrogen atom can be treated as a simple particle in interactions less than about 10 eV, which do not disturb its internal states. At higher energies, the electron in the hydrogen atom is likely to be moved to a new state, and the atom will behave as a composite object.
The modern trend in particle physics has been toward higher and higher energies, so revealing more and more internal structure in the particles it studies. At the present energy levels, we are faced by a set of particles which appear to have no internal structure, quarks, gluons, electrons, photons and neutrinos. It may be that at very high energies these too will manifest internal structure. However we predict that there will be an energy scale, corresponding to the countable level of the transfinite network, where no further internal structure is manifest.
This scale may be the Planck scale, named for the the quantum of action discovered by Max Planck. We observe that there are no observable event measuring less than a quantum of action. We cannot therefore observe any sub-events within such a one quantum event, since this observation would involve less than a quantum of action.
The Planck scale corresponds to the finest and deepest level of detail available in the universe. We imagine it to be the scale of the initial singularity with which the universe began. The structure of this singularity, whatever it may be, is an element of all more complex structures in the universe. We might say that the initial singularity, represented by the countable level of the transfinite network, is the fundamental building block of the universe.
We expand these ideas through a discussion of quantum information theory and scales of energy, momentum and action. We know that the universe, by definition is closed with respect to communication. We know also that there is communication within the universe. So we conclude that the universe, at all stages of complexity, communicates only with itself.
Thus we see the initial singularity as a point communicating with itself, talking about itself (since it has nothing else to say). We begin to model this, following Goedel, with arithmetic talking about arithmetic. Cantor's theorem shows us that, to avoid contradiction, it is necessary for this to grow into a universe of unlimited complexity. This leads us to thinking about metaphysics.
Books
| Cantor, Georg, Contributions to the Founding of the Theory of Transfinite Numbers (Translated, with Introduction and Notes by Philip E B Jourdain), Dover 1955 Jacket: 'One of the greatest mathematical classics of all time, this work established a new field of mathematics which was to be of incalculable importance in topology, number theory, analysis, theory of functions, etc, as well as the entire field of modern logic.' Amazon back |
| Capra, Fritjof, The Tao of Physics: An exploration of the parallels between modern physics and Eastern mysticism, 1991 Amazon back |
| Feynman, Richard P et al, and , The Feynman Lectures on Physics (volume 3) : Quantum Mechanics, Addison Wesley 1970 Foreword: 'This set of lectures tries to elucidate from the beginning those features of quantum mechanics which are the most basic and the most general. ... In each instance the ideas are introduced together with a detailed discussion of some specific examples - to try to make the physical ideas as real as possible.' Matthew Sands Amazon back |
| Weinberg, Steven, The First Three Minutes: a modern view of the origin of the universe, Basic Books 1993 Preface: 'The present book is concerned with the early unvierse, and in particular with the new understanding of the early universe that has grown out of the discovery of the cosmic microwave radiation background in 1965.' Amazon back |
| Weinberg, Steven, The Quantum Theory of Fields Volume II: Modern Applications, Cambridge University Press 1996 Jacket: '[This volume] gives an up-to-date and self-contained account of the methods of quantum field theory, and how they have led to an understanding of the weak, strong and electromagnetic interactions of the elementary particles. The presentation of modern mathematical methods is throughout interwoven with accounts of the problemd of elemntary partricle physics and condensed matter physics to which they have been applied. Topics are incl;uded that are not usually found in books on quantum field theory, such as the Batalin-Vilkovsky formalism and its application to renomralisation and anomalies in gauge theories; the background field method; the effective field theory approach to symmetry breaking; critical phenomena; and superconductivity. The book contains original material and is peppered with examples and insights from the author's experience as a lkeader of elementary particle physics. Problems are inlcuided at the end of each chapter.' Amazon back |
| Weinberg, Steven, The Quantum Theory of Fields Volume I: Foundations, Cambridge University Press 1995 Jacket: 'After a brief historical outline, the book begins anew with the principles about which we are most certain, relativity and quantum mechanics, and then the properties of particles that follow from these principles. Quantum field theory then emerges from this as a natural consequence. The classic calculations of quantum electrodynamics are presented in a thoroughly modern way, showing the use of path integrals and dimensional regularization. The account of renormalization theory reflects the changes in our view of quantum field theory since the advent of effective field theories. The book's scope extends beyond quantum elelctrodynamics to elementary partricle physics and nuclear physics. It contains much original material, and is peppered with examples and insights drawn from the author's experience as a leader of elementary particle research. Problems are included at the end of each chapter. ' Amazon back |
| Weinberg, Steven, The Quantum Theory of Fields, Volume III: Supersymmetry, Cambridge University Press 2000 Jacket: '[This volume] presents a self-contained, up-to-date and comprehensive introduction to supersymmetry, a highly active area of theoretical physics that is likely to be the centre of future progress in the physics of elementary particles and gravitation. The text introduces and explains a broad range of topics, including supersymmetric algebras, supersymmetric field theories, extended supersymmetry, super-graphs, non-perturbative results, theories of supersymmetry in high dimensions, and supergravity. A thorough review is given of the phenomenological implications of sypersymmetry, including theories of both gauge and gravitationally mediated supersymmetry breaking. Also provided is an introduction to mathematical techniques, based on holomorphy and duality, that have proved so fruitful in recent developments. The book contains much material not found in other books on supersymmetry, some of it new. Problems are included at the end of each chapter.' Amazon back |
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