JENSEN 1

String

Theory
String theory is a still-developing approach to theoretical physics,

an attempt to reconcile quantum mechanics with general relativity,

and a widely debated subject since its birth in the early 1990s. It unites

the theory of gravity, the conflict of electromagnetism, and quantum

physics into a single theory described as T.O.E.: the theory of

everything. String theory describes a method through which the forces

of our universe, previously believed to be in a self-contradictory,

paradoxical state, may interact in harmony. This paper will attempt to

provide basic information about string theory and an argument of its

truth.

The theory begins with the smallest particles that physicists have

identified: electrons, protons, neutrons, and quarks (atoms cut in half).

These particles are the tiny building blocks of life from which all matter
is based, and they appear to have no further internal substructure.

According to accepted and proven theories of today, these particles

are as small as matter gets. According to string theory, that is false.

String theory states that if scientists could examine these particles

with a precision and magnitude many times greater than is currently

possible, they would discover that rather than a point these particles

are a loop. Like an infinitely thin rubber band, each particle is a

vibrating filament called a string.

This idea, however, is extremely controversial. It unravels the

fundamental principles of the universe as we know them today. Up

until string theory was suggested, it was generally believed that the

universe is based upon a point-particle perspective: that the smallest

unit of matter is a point. Entire studies have been based upon the

knowledge that the reactions of life occur because of infinitely small

points reacting with each other. String theory states that rather than

points; life is enabled by filament reactions, that everything can be

explained by looking at the movements of these circular strings.

A generally accepted and appreciated view of string theory is

that it unites two concepts, which have hitherto remained

contradictory: gravity and electromagnetism. The theories of today

state that both forces cannot exist; yet, according to the anthropic

principle, they do. Gravity: the attraction pull of mass on mass, and

electromagnetism: the inter-atomic pull of negatively charged

electrons and positively charged protons. According to point-particle

physics, these forces should not be able to coincide. Gravity and

electromagnetism are both strong forces, and a point particle cannot

react to the pull of both simultaneously. However, a flexible, circular

string particle would be able to respond to both attractions. These are

the basics of string theory and what it states.

However, there are problems with string theory. It is incredibly

difficult to visualize a universe made of string particles. They behave

unpredictably and appear to react with each other randomly,

regardless of distance. Sometimes they behave like particles, other

times like waves. The theory has been proven multiple times, but it is

complicated to imagine a universe out of a set of equations.

The theory remained in the dark until Hugh Everett proposed a

strange and daring new explanation. Everett claimed that our universe

is just one of an infinite number of parallel universes existing side by

side. Each of these is constantly splitting, so there is a universe where

Hitler won the war, a universe where the atomic bomb was never

invented, and one where you didn’t brush your teeth this morning.

Every choice that every person has made or not made and every

choice that every person will make or not make exists in a universe

parallel to ours. This suggests that we pass through these universes

with every choice we make. Instead of time passing us by, we pass

through time, formed by the multiverse. Time is an infinite series of

parallel universes.

Everett called this the “many worlds” interpretation of quantum

mechanics, and his explanation was consistent with string theory

equations, yet it is incredibly difficult to comprehend. There are an

choice that has ever been made, is being made, and will be made.

Past, present, and future exist at once, and as we make choices we

pass through the different universes according to our decisions.

A simple experiment was performed that proved the truth of the

theory: two walls were set up, one in front of the other. The first wall

had a single vertical slit in it, through which a light was shone. On the

second wall one could see a single bar of white light.

Then, instead of one slit, there was a wall with two vertical slits

in it. On the second wall one could see a series of bars of light. This

pattern is created because of the way the photons (single particles of

light energy) react off of each other. This is a known fact, proven and

unquestioned. The light pattern on the wall would look something like

this:

*(The spaces in between represent the light shining through from the slits in

the first wall.)

Scientists repeated this experiment, sending the photons

through one at a time with a weak light and extremely sensitive

detectors. The photons should have made a pattern like this:

Since they were sent through one at a time, the photons should

not react off of each other and should create the above pattern of

alternating light and dark spaces. However, the photons still created

the first pattern. This should not be possible, since no apparent

reactions were occurring. However, when we take into account

Everett’s theory, this can be explained. The photons created the first

pattern because they were reacting off of photons from universes

parallel to ours. In a universe split off of our own, the reactions were

able to occur and create the pattern.

String theory is a complicated and unique theory that attempts

to explain the mechanics of the universe. It defies modern science by

suggesting a universe based upon string like particles, yet reconciles

two opposing forces: gravity and electromagnetism. Finally, string

theory states that an infinite amount of universes exist parallel to ours

and are constantly splitting and changing. No one has yet been able to

successfully prove the theory wrong, and it is the most current and

believable theory available today.