New particle accelerator could rule out string theory [ Large Hadron Collider ]

New Scientist ^ | February 1, 2007 | David Shiga

[SunkenCiv]

In 2006, string theorist Allan Adams of MIT in Cambridge, US, and others offered a more promising check. They showed that some particle collisions could reveal whether certain fundamental assumptions underlying string theory are wrong.

Now, another team has shown that the energies needed to reveal such effects are achievable at the LHC, which is being built in Geneva, Switzerland. The team was led by Jacques Distler of the University of Texas in Austin, US.

One of string theory's assumptions comes from Einstein's theory of relativity – that the speed of light is the same for all observers, a principle called Lorentz invariance.

This principle – and three others underlying string theory – determine how strongly particles called W bosons, which transmit the weak nuclear force, interact.

If these interactions are below the strength calculated by Distler's team, it would signal that one of the assumptions built into string theory is incorrect and that therefore string theory itself is wrong, the researchers say.

[SunkenCiv]

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The LHC will smash protons together and could test string theory (Illustration: LHC/FNAL)

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[SunkenCiv]

Large Hadron Collider: Does every particle in the universe consist of points, strings, or loops?
iTWire | Thursday, January 18, 2007 | William Atkins
Posted on 01/18/2007 4:15:35 AM EST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1769410/posts

[SunkenCiv]

[Tarpon]

Wouldn't it be funny if they published the results before they did the science, then just go back and fix the science results to match up with what they originally summarized -- Just like the UN IPCC did. Imagine the money that could be saved, just put it out there no proof required.

I feel that the fact that global warming has become nothing more than political weird emotional science, that all science may succumb to the money. Losing the rock that is science, this could be a really bad trend for mankind.

[brivette]

Awhile back, I sold data acquition and control hardware/software to a super collider in Long Island. Called the Phoenix project, its mission was to find "quark gluon plasma", the stuff that existed when the universe was born. One of the more controversial aspects of the program was that it would create mini black holes, which would eventually destroy the world.

Well, they never (to my knowledge) built up enough energy to find the plasma; they are relying on Cern to finish what they began. Ref: See Dan Brown.

[brivette]

btw: I wrote a memo to my company that offered a disclaimer, stating that the warranty on our products would be voided in the event that the lab blew up the world.

[LongElegantLegs]

...And then give it a really hot cup of strong tea...

[TBP]

Every particle in the Universe is made of energy.

But I do think string theory will ultimately be upheld -- at least for now.

[SunkenCiv]

I grok that.

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