Superstrings: A Theory of Everything?

Front Cover
P. C. W. Davies, Julian Brown
Cambridge University Press, Jul 31, 1992 - Science - 234 pages
Superstring theory is one of the most exciting and actively pursued branches of physics today. The far-reaching claims made for this theory would, if correct, provide the much sought-after Theory of Everything, the unification of physics. It would enable the fundamental building blocks of matter to be identified and amalgamated in a common description, with a unified theory of all the forces of nature. This book explains the theory for laymen, in an introduction to the subject which originated in the BBC Radio programme, Desperately Seeking Superstrings. A clear, concise, non-mathematical explanation of the theory and its profound implications is followed by transcripts of interviews with all the most important physicists involved in its development. Superstrings makes a fascinating topic at the forefront of modern scientific research accessible to physicists, philosophers and general readers alike.

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Contents

Introduction
1
12 Unity at the heart of nature
6
13 The theory of relativity
8
14 The quantum theory
18
15 The world of subatomic particles
21
16 The four forces
26
17 Messenger particles
29
18 Symmetry and supersymmetry
33
John Schwarz
70
Edward Witten
90
Michael Green
107
David Gross
140
John Ellis
151
Abdus Salam
170
Sheldon Glashow
180
Richard Feynman
192

19 Unification of the forces
47
110 Unified gauge theories
52
111 Supergravity
60
112 Mathematical diseases
63
113 String theory
67
Steven Weinberg
211
Glossary
225
Index
229
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