GoaRedStar
9th February 2006, 04:03
This past December, Joanne Hewett, Thomas Rizzo and student Ben Lillie published an article in Physical Review Letters which shows theoretically how to measure the number of dimensions that comprise the universe. By determining how many dimensions exist, Hewett and Rizzo hope to either confirm or repudiate string theory under specific conditions.
The first three dimensions, length, height and width, are familiar to all of us. The fourth dimension is time. But what are these extra dimensions? Imagine a tightrope stretched between skyscrapers, says Hewett. If you are watching an acrobat walk across it the tightrope looks like a line. But if you are watching an ant walk on the tightrope, you can see that the tightrope is thick and round. The extra dimensions postulated in string theory are like the tightrope with an ant on it; they are too small to see unless you get really, really close.
Hewett and Rizzo found that so called micro-black holes, which are smaller than the nucleus of an atom, should let them get close enough to determine the number of extra dimensions. If scientists were to smash two high energy protons together they could theoretically make such a micro-black hole. This particle decays quickly and emits over a dozen different kinds of particles such as electrons, neutrinos and photons which are easy to detect. Using the predicted decay properties of these neutrinos, Hewett and Rizzo solved complex equations to find that our universe may have more than 10 or 11 dimensions too many dimensions to be explained by string theory. The computations were so massive, we had to make extreme use of the Babar UNIX farm, said Rizzo.
Of course, string theory hasnt been tested yet experimental evidence is necessary. The biggest test will be to look at the decay of micro-black holes inside CERNs Large Haldron Collider (LHC) when it is operational next year. If they see black holes in the LHC, theyll definitely do this, says Hewett, This is a promising approach to testing the validity of string theory.
http://www.physorg.com/news10682.html
I understand these experiments are good for expanding are knowlegde of the universe but what are the possibility that micro black hole pose a threat to humanity.
The first three dimensions, length, height and width, are familiar to all of us. The fourth dimension is time. But what are these extra dimensions? Imagine a tightrope stretched between skyscrapers, says Hewett. If you are watching an acrobat walk across it the tightrope looks like a line. But if you are watching an ant walk on the tightrope, you can see that the tightrope is thick and round. The extra dimensions postulated in string theory are like the tightrope with an ant on it; they are too small to see unless you get really, really close.
Hewett and Rizzo found that so called micro-black holes, which are smaller than the nucleus of an atom, should let them get close enough to determine the number of extra dimensions. If scientists were to smash two high energy protons together they could theoretically make such a micro-black hole. This particle decays quickly and emits over a dozen different kinds of particles such as electrons, neutrinos and photons which are easy to detect. Using the predicted decay properties of these neutrinos, Hewett and Rizzo solved complex equations to find that our universe may have more than 10 or 11 dimensions too many dimensions to be explained by string theory. The computations were so massive, we had to make extreme use of the Babar UNIX farm, said Rizzo.
Of course, string theory hasnt been tested yet experimental evidence is necessary. The biggest test will be to look at the decay of micro-black holes inside CERNs Large Haldron Collider (LHC) when it is operational next year. If they see black holes in the LHC, theyll definitely do this, says Hewett, This is a promising approach to testing the validity of string theory.
http://www.physorg.com/news10682.html
I understand these experiments are good for expanding are knowlegde of the universe but what are the possibility that micro black hole pose a threat to humanity.