Henry Harris

ENGL 21003

Professor Brittany Zayas

November 11, 2024

Literature Review on String Theory, UFT’s, and Speculative Science 

Introduction

In the early 20th century, nearly 100 years ago in 1915, Einstein described gravity under classical mechanics as a bending of space-time by massive objects. For a short period of time, the theory was accepted as universally applicable, until the discovery and evolution of the theory of quantum mechanics a decade later (Gopakumar, 2015). Under quantum mechanics, particles at their most elementary components act very differently than massive objects, and comply very differently with mathematics than expected under general relativity, which has remained the unexplored stumping point in our description of gravity. 

From this irreconciliation originates the objective of string theory. For many modern field theories, the goal is to provide an explanation of elementary particle interactions that answers to both the established rules of general relativity and the relatively unexplained phenomena in quantum mechanics called a Unified Field Theory (UFT). The proponents of string theory seek to redefine our basic understanding of particles, and state that fundamental, one dimensional string-like objects hold a primary characteristic of tension, T, which determines the identity of the particles they make up (Gopakumar 2015). However, string theory is not the single effort to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity. Separate approaches—some overlapping many rules with string theory—are proposed under vastly different [views?]. One of the theories in this review explored by Shor et al. named dendrogramic-holographic theory is an example of these alternative attempts.

It is through the overlapping ideas in these theories that an explorative stance can be taken to apply philosophy derived from a UFT. Theories such as parallel universes arrive from the explorations of string theory and fellow field theories by physicists and thinkers such as Hugh Everett that further unite the theories of physics with fringe science.

Modern Understanding of String Theory

String theory has been largely helpful under several examples of previously undetermined and unexpected situations under general relativity. The main focus of these situations is under Schwarzchild radii of black holes, where the mathematics of general relativity are pushed to a quantum level. It was in the middle of the 1990s that a version of string theory which proposed that defects in closed string theory—which, according to Gopakumar aligns heavily to general relativity—are the result of objects extended into more than one dimension called branes being composed of several different strings to each corner of the brane. Since these branes could connect different dimensions of space-time, they can proactively explain the existence of phenomena such as Hawking radiation from black holes proposed by Stephen Hawking (Gopakumar, 2015). These branes exist on a quantum scale that similarly coincides with a main feature of dendrogramic-holographic theory that explains these gaps in observations and expected results (Shor et al., 2022) such as those seen in Hawking radiation.

Research into Hawking radiation and entropy of black holes along with corrections to general relativity by de Wit, Dabholkar, and Sen have been prominent contributions in defining how open and closed string relate to these branes used to define Hawking radiation at a quantum (planck) scale, and have led to a theory of gauge-string duality by physicist Juan Maldacena—properties of closed strings coincide with properties of particles under general relativity and properties of open strings align with rules observed in quantum mechanics (Gopakumar, 2015). 

At this point in research, there exists main issues of string theory which come from its failure to fully navigate itself. By this, Gopakumar means that string theory falls victim to its ability to only describe accurately in ten dimensions of space-time. Even then, for these versions to be consistent, a separate theory of supersymmetry—which claims identical equations for force and matter—has to be applied (Gopakumar, 2015). 

Alternative Unified Field Theories

Dendogramic-holographic theory founded primarily by Shor, Benninger, and Khrennikov intends to unify general relativity and quantum gravity/theory in a similar way to string theory, albeit through a different rational approach. DH theory analyzes the relations of events through data collection by observer O, and “by increasing data collection, O can construct larger dendrograms. The limit of such dendrograms is the infinite tree” (Shor et al. 2022). Each event branches off from one primary observed event in a tree-like formation, providing the dendrograms explained under DH theory. The largest issue under DH theory is—again similarly to string theory—a vital lacking of experimental data. Since DH theory is a proposition for how we observe the universe through representations—or holograms—of events, it is of its nature hard to test. P-adic systems under DH theory provide possibilities for events to occur using a prime number p, which unites the theory to quantum gravity and mechanics; however, quantum theory is already very difficult to provide experimental data for. The more concrete processes that support DH theory are under general relativity, which DH theory shares expected results for the special general relativity model of a Schwarzchild black hole (Shor et al. 2022). DH theory—although different in its approach to unification than string theory—still has main concerns that are similar to string theory in lacking of concreteness. However, they both agree on the nuance that physicists still are not wholly devoted to one unified field theory. Though the components of the theories that are congruent which each other do not go ignored.

As DH theory and string theory both agree upon, the exploration of higher-dimensional interactions is vital in understanding more of quantum mechanics as the theories are applied to the two. With string theory’s duality theories providing this insight between space-time dimensions in quantum mechanics of entropy (Gopakumar, 2015) and DH theory providing an exploration into the outcomes of events and the relationship they build between each other (Shor et al, 2022) a unique shared experience can be explored between them.

Many Worlds and Speculative Science

Ruzin explains an interpretation by physicist Hugh Everett of many worlds—parallel universes—existing due the the nature of quantum mechanics agreed upon by string theory and DH-theory. Everett’s many worlds interpretation comes from a study of quantum mechanics of Schrodinger, where particles exist under uncertain states until observation (Ruzin, 2023). Under string theory, these characteristics of particles are determined by the tension and properties of strings, which follow the same collapsing-wave function upon observation of quantum mechanics. Everett’s observation as analyzed by Ruzin is that each event is a bifurcation in which its two states exist at the same time, although in separate universes (Ruzin, 2023). According to DH-theory, a similar observation is made when events are conducted and branch off of each other through P-adic—prime number—observations, which could result in different branches from the same tree (Shor et al, 2022). Ruzin proposes two processes of Everett’s theory—the first, where an observation is made and the state is determined, and a second, where the state continues to change between the two, and goes undetermined. Through quantum mechanics, Ruzin links the two unified field theories to Everett’s theory, where he proposes that our entire universe is the event or system, and thus can not be observed from the outside, meaning it would fall into the second process. New light onto quantum physics through UFTs such as string theory do allow for greater insight on the historical fringe between science and philosophy—such as Buddhist reincarnation (Ruzin, 2023)—the movement to apply string theory and quantum mechanics this way is still highly speculative. 

The speculation does not mean very specific theories can be proposed that attach the fringe to string theory. Drageset takes the proposition of branes under string theory as a possible explanation for the location and existence of dark matter and dark energy, and that our gaps in understanding—called the ‘cosmos’—could be determined from string theory. Under Drageset’s hypothesis, the proposition of string theory to explain interactions between physical and nonphysical particles on different levels of dimensions provides different approaches to understanding the cosmos. The author also assumes that all types of energy and matter have not yet been discovered, and that—as string theory may propose under some understandings—there may be nonphysical particles that carry energy (Drageset, 2020). Two schools of thought from the International Academy of Consciousness and the Acem international school of meditation both collect information on the cosmos through different means. The IAC dedicates itself to sleep, dreaming, and out-of-body experiences during sleep to analyze the unconscious mind. Acem—in a similar approach—collects neuroscience, physics, and string theory to analyze the similar process of meditation. Through string theory and the allowance of extra-dimensions, “A mind consisting of two parallel nonphysical universes seems to support the observations made by IAC and Acem” (Drageset, 2020), where one universe carries dark matter, energy, and psychological processes. The theory does lack a large backing of rational thought, as it is difficult to apply experimentation and mathematical processes to such a theory. It is mostly analytical, and proposes a different way of applying scientific theory to speculation.

Overall and similarly to Ruzin’s explanation of Everett’s hypothesis, Drageset is applying a philosophical thinking to the rules established by string theory, which enables the theory to be used for explanations of speculative science. 

Conclusion

Although disagreeing on the approach towards unification, both string theory and DH theory share the same motivation. Through this agreement, the two have commonalities—primarily, as exemplified in Drageset and Ruzin’s theories, our understanding of observation and higher dimensions through quantum theory. Although speculative science is often more philosophical and unapproachable by mathematics, they are legitimately derived from processes utilized in the search for a unified field theory. As the search continues and more processes are revealed, it is possible that the future evidence for speculative theories grows, and the scientific backing behind them becomes more stable. Overall, there will always be a union between the theories of physics and fringe science through the congruences they share, allowing for the philosophical ideas derived from string theory and other unified field theories.

References

Drageset, O. (2020). A model of matter, mind, and consciousness. Physics Essays, 33(4), 453–459. https://doi-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/10.4006/0836-1398-33.4.453

Gopakumar, R. (2015). String theory and the conundrums of quantum gravity. Current Science (00113891), 109(12), 2265–2270. 

Ruzin, M. (2023). Parallel Universes. Vizione, 40, 303–310. 

Shor, O., Benninger, F., & Khrennikov, A. (2022). Towards Unification of General Relativity and Quantum Theory: Dendrogram Representation of the Event-Universe. Entropy, 24(2), 181.