Introduction: Everyone who wants to establish a grand unified theory of physics must first solve the problem of gravitational force.
Now, in addition to gravity, the other three forces can be explained within a system. But the contradictions between gravity and quantum mechanics are irreconcilable. Therefore, to establish a theory of everything, the problem of gravitational quantization is the first problem.
The Grand Unified Theory (GUT) is a physicist's dream. It is hoped that a theory can be used to explain the physical phenomena caused by gravity, electromagnetic interaction, strong interaction and weak interaction, so as to realize the theory of everything in physics. Although there is no complete unified theory of physics, scientists have made a lot of efforts in this direction and achieved partial results.
To establish a unified theory of physics, it is necessary to first understand the existing physics knowledge, especially the basic knowledge of electromagnetic interaction, strong interaction and weak interaction. Further rational thinking and summing up experience in order to establish new theoretical models. In addition, it is necessary to master advanced mathematical tools, such as group theory, topology, etc., which can help us deal with complex physical quantities and equations.
In order to establish a grand unified theory of physics, it is also necessary to develop new physical experiments and measurement techniques. These experiments and techniques will help us better understand the properties and interactions of matter. For example, the development of high-energy accelerators, gravitational wave detectors, new detectors and other devices can help us study elementary particles and the evolution of the universe more deeply.
In order to break the existing theoretical shackles, some risky and innovative research is also needed. Scientists can question traditional views of physics from different perspectives and propose more reasonable theoretical models. This kind of innovative thinking requires a certain degree of emancipation of the mind and the courage to challenge traditional concepts.
Spiritual Escapist Quantum Mechanic Discipline "Seeing Micro Knowledge"
In order to realize the establishment of a grand unified theory of physics, we can take the following specific operation suggestions:
1. Strengthen basic research: Basic research is an important foundation for establishing a unified theory of physics. The state and scientific research institutions should increase investment in basic research and encourage researchers to conduct more innovative research.
2. Conduct key research: determine the key direction of physics grand unified theory research, and promote in-depth research in related fields and sub-disciplines by formulating scientific research plans and topics.
3. Build an international cooperation platform: build an international cooperation platform to attract global physicists to actively participate in the research of grand unified theory. Cooperation can be promoted by organizing international academic conferences and joint projects.
4. Development of measurement technology: development of new physical experiments and measurement techniques, exploration of material properties and interactions. Strengthen research and development of nuclear detectors, superconducting magnets and other equipment.
5. Improve the application level of mathematical tools: improve the mathematical literacy of scientists, and strengthen the use of mathematical methods such as group theory and topology.
In short, the establishment of a unified theory of physics requires the joint efforts of physicists around the world, and a variety of means need to be adopted, including strengthening basic research, establishing international cooperation platforms, developing measurement technology, and improving the application level of mathematical tools. We believe that in the near future, mankind will definitely realize the dream of a grand unified theory of physics!
At this point, there is an obvious question as to why gravity cannot be incorporated into the gauge field theory of the Standard Model. How do you answer this question?
The most important reason why gravity cannot be incorporated into the Standard Model is that the implementation of gravitational quantization has some non-physical consequences. Specifically, you can understand it from the following aspects.
1. If we admit that there is no unreasonable effect, then the theory of gravitons is conceivable. But gravitons were not found. If it is discovered, then it is very good. Through the theory of gravitons, it can be incorporated into the Standard Model. There is no need for "gravitationalization".
2. The second point is that we think that the theory of gravity is very mature, but in fact it is not mature. Newton's theory of gravity is correct, Einstein's theory is also correct, and we usually say that they apply to different ranges. There is nothing wrong with this statement, but why are the two theories of gravity so different. Newton's theory of gravity can be seen as approximately "linear", while Einstein's theory of gravity is "nonlinear", and it is very difficult to get a solution. Not to mention using Einstein's field equations to calculate the gravitational force between two objects. Including the launch of rockets now, artificial spacecraft, etc., all use Newton's theory of gravity to calculate the value.
There are so many things worth thinking about. For example, is it accidental that Coulomb's law and Newton's law of gravity are so similar? Is it accidental that, for example, the law of inertia and the law of Lenz are so similar? And then the gravitational mass and the inertial mass are equal, is it accidental? It's certainly not an accident. But we don't quite understand the secrets between these relationships right now. So how to incorporate gravity into gauge theory.
It's not that quantum mechanics has nothing to do with gravity at all, and if you can't get on it, you can definitely catch it. In any object, particles must be affected by gravity. You say, for example, that the Dirac equation is actually relativistic.
We know that quantum electrodynamics originated in 1927 when Paul Dirac applied quantum theory to the quantization of electromagnetic fields. He treated the interaction of charge and electromagnetic field as perturbations that caused energy level transitions that caused changes in the number of emitted photons, but generally the system satisfied conservation of energy and momentum.
Dirac succeeded in deriving the form of Einstein's coefficients from first principles and proved that Bose-Einstein statistics for photons are a natural consequence of the quantization of electromagnetic fields. It has now been found that being able to accurately describe such processes is one of the most important applications of quantum electrodynamics.
On the other hand, the relativistic quantum mechanics developed by Dirac is a prelude to quantum electrodynamics, and the Dirac equation, as the basic equation of quantum mechanics under the framework of special relativity, described the regular quantization of the spinor field of electrons and other fermions was completed by Hungarian-American physicists Eugene Weigner and Jordan. The creation and annihilation of particles predicted by the Dirac equation can be re-described in the language of regular quantization.
As a theory of gravity, general relativity is based on special relativity, so gravitational theory cannot be kicked out of the standard model from a macroscopic or microscopic perspective. That is, there is a way for gravity to be incorporated into the standard model, but we have not found this connection.
3. Gravity cannot be incorporated into the standard model, which has two meanings for beginners. Is Newton's theory of gravity not included in the Standard Model? Or can't general relativity be incorporated into the Standard Model? Of course, the latter, we have not seen in various reports that Newtonian gravity is included in the Standard Model. The reason? It is clear because Newton's theory of space-time is absolute and static. Such a theory cannot be talked about, volatility, renormalization, quantization and other "quantum" words, so how to incorporate it? Apparently in an awkward place.
But isn't the latter embarrassing? Of course, it is also embarrassing, that is, gravity is difficult to subtize. The biggest problem is that the theoretical background of space-time in general relativity is curved, and it is believed that space-time bends to produce gravity. This is actually an unimaginable phenomenon, but it is now widely accepted. In this book, I say in this regard, I do not agree with this interpretation. I prefer that space-time produces gravity, which is a space-time property. Then gravitational tonization can be ignored by background curvature.
That is to say, the focus is on understanding the properties of space-time, energy interaction to understand gravity, and complete the integration of gravity and quantum mechanics.
I started my reasoning by starting with the strict equality of gravitational mass and inertial mass. That is, I say that gravity is the source of inertia. Based on this, a series of reasonings are unfolded. It is believed that time, space, and matter are one. Both the definition of mass and the definition of time require a relativistic definition. By saying this, I am not overturning or refuting Einstein's theory, but rather supporting and promoting his theory. Because I believe in the correctness of the theory of relativity. It has withstood rigorous experimentation, and I have no reason to oppose it. And I am satisfied with the four conditions for the establishment of the theory of relativity. No experiment can prove that the speed of light is not an upper limit, or that the equivalence principle does not hold. There are no such experiments. So why don't we believe in the theory of relativity.
Believing in it, and how to interpret it, is not the same. So I think we may be wrong in understanding the theory of relativity, and even the person who created the theory did not fully understand the theory he created.
Einstein created the general theory of relativity with genius ability and imagination, but it was very difficult to arrive at a solution. I have introduced a few solutions. Our understanding of a gravitational theory is so jerky, which is one reason why the theory cannot be integrated with the Standard Model theory.
Then the other question arises, how can gravity be incorporated into the Standard Model. The answer to the question lies in the question. The above problems cannot be solved, and the arrival of the grand unified theory may still be far away.
But we can think about the current direction and tools. What about direction? It mainly starts with quantization and wave interaction. Powerful tools are Higgs fields, Higgs particles, Young Mills fields and equations, symmetry breaking theory, vacuum theory, chaos theory. Because the Higgs field is the platform for converting energy into concrete mass particles. And this is closely related to gravity and the other three forces, which can be said to be the top priority.
Because in the eyes of scientists, the Higgs field is significantly different from other fields in physics. All other fields have variations in intensity and drop to zero at their lowest energy levels. But this is not the case with the Higgs field. Even if you empty the space completely, you can never clear the Higgs field, it cannot be closed, it will always be ghostly. But we don't notice it, it's as natural as air is to us, and water is to fish. But without it we would cease to exist, because it is through interaction with this field that the particle acquires mass. It is this process that makes the formation of atoms and molecules possible. If the Higgs field suddenly disappears, all matter will collapse and disintegrate in an instant, because at this moment the massless electron will escape from the atom at the speed of light.
I believe that after reading it, you will understand that the seemingly prosperous physics is still shrouded in fog. There are not only two clouds in the sky, there are too many dark clouds. So the question will not have the last one. But I still believe that the theory of grand unification exists, and can be established and perfected. Even in my lifetime, I can see. It's like I saw the U.S. InSight probe land on Mars, and this is humanity's eighth feat. We will definitely go further and further.
But wherever we go, we must remember where we came from. Never losing ourselves is a prerequisite for us to go further.
I've been emphasizing that these are philosophical books rather than writing these two popular science books. It can make you think and imagine many wonderful things. The electronic version of this book is available on Taobao
Updated on November 28, 2018.
Excerpted from the popular science book "Change" by an independent scholar, writer, and famous teacher of Chinese Studies