Slashdot Mirror
String Theory Predicts Behavior of Superfluids
schrodingers_rabbit writes "Despite formidable odds, condensed matter physicists have made a breakthrough most thought impossible — finding a practical use for string theory. The initial breakthrough was made by physicist and cosmologist Juan Maldacena. His theory states that the known universe is only a 2D construct in anti-de-Sitter space, projected into 3 dimensions. This theory manages to model black holes and quantum theory congruently, a feat that has eluded scientists for decades; but it fails to correspond to the shape of space-time in the known universe. However, it does predict thermodynamic properties of black holes, including higher-dimensional viscosity — the equations for which elegantly and almost exactly calculate the behavior of quark-gluon plasma and other superfluids. According to Jan Zaanen at the University of Leiden, 'The theory is calculating precisely what we are seeing in experiments.' Unfortunately, the correspondence cannot prove or disprove string theory, although it is a positive step." Not an easy path to follow: one condensed matter theorist said, "It took two years and two 1000-page books of dense mathematics, but I learned string theory and got kind of enchanted by it. [When the string-theory related] thing began to... make predictions about high-temperature superconductors, my traditional mainstay, I was one of the few condensed matter physicists with the preparation to take it up."
the known universe is only a 2D construct in anti-de-Sitter space, projected into 3 dimensions
Well if THAT'S all it is, I see no reason to upgrade my video card.
Rich And Stupid is not so bad as Working For Rich And Stupid.
on page 642 of the second book, they divide by zero, so back to the drawing board.
one condensed matter theorist said, "It took two years and two 1000-page books of dense mathematics, but I learned string theory and got kind of enchanted by it.
Boy, long winter evenings must just fly.
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
I have a theory that there must be a joke in here somewhere about strings and superfluid!
Maybe something about David Carradine or Michael Hutchence?
Enlighten me, why would proving a theory that is another step toward a GUT be a negative step?
Well, you see, string theory is very complex, but really in the 2d universe we truly live in, it can be considered a negative step, but you won't understand it, because your used to only experiencing the 2 real dimensions and the incredible faux 3rd dimension, which is a construct of our brains to understand the space which we perceive. Anyway, the point is, if you really understand string theory, you see the negative step. But if you're standing behind the theory, it's a positive step. It's all relative.
Re:Yeah... (Score:1) Mod Parent +1 WTF? POP-PHYSICS
Belief? Hope? Preference?The Existential Vortex
It's like spaghetti theory. They throw bunch up against wall, and if a few sticks then they say "see, like we were saying...".
Doesn't matter. They'd all soon be hanged with FSM tentacles for sacrilege.
That's because your mind is still constrained by our 2D universe.
Chicken don't have fingers, I hope this fact doesn't affect your PhD thesis.
I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with "pc keyboards back-to-back" as a system of measurement, could you translate that into Football Fields for me?
Rule of Slashdot #0: You and people like you are not representative of the larger population. - A.C.
I don't know, but I do have a theory how 7of9 would look in a string.
This is not the sig you're looking for.
Oh, I think you know the answer to that.
Is something burning?
Oh, it's my karma.
Strings ARE flexible! You can even tie them in knots.
"Do you know string theory?"
"No, I'm a frayed knot."
"Omnis tuus capsa sunt inesse nos"
Ignignokt: You and your 3rd dimension.
Frylock: What about it?
Ignignokt: It's cute, we have five.
Err: Th-thousand.
Ignignokt: Yes, five thousand.
Err: Don't question it!
Frylock: Well, I only see two.
Ignignokt: Well, that sounds like a personal problem.
Spaghetti is tastier than string, and they could unify biology and physics with AdS/FSM spaces. How many dimensions has His Noodly Appendage?
As always....xkcd explains it best here.
Motorcycles, Robots, Space Gossip and More!
http://xkcd.com/171/
Your "intelligent variable" is just the long-discredited "hidden variable" interpretation dressed up with a bunch of hokum to explain away the Aspect Experiment. You can't close your eyes to the truth and stumble around in the dark, when a single photon will show you His Noodly Appendage!
... It's late and I'm going to bed, because I had to read that three times to get it to not say "The Macarena duality..."
Long? What do you mean the signature at the bottom of every comment I post on Slashdot is too lo