Henry Harris

English 21003

Professor Zayas

Annotated Bibliography

10-28-24

Bibliography

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

Drageset argues that the nature of string theory and its exploration into the n-th dimensions provides grounds to discuss ‘fringe science’ such as the origin of consciousness in a more scientific light. For example, if string theory provides that there are nonphysical particles that interact with tangible and physical particles, then different approaches to understanding the power of the mind can be taken that were not available years ago when these questions first were asked. When it comes to string theory, Drageset discusses how absences in knowledge of dark matter/dark energy, and our understanding of how our universe operates under string theory provides outlets for understanding energy in the first place. Drageset proposes that—since the nature of the three dimensions in our universe have not yet been identified under string theory—if we open up for several more dimensions and identify dark matter with interactions from parallel universes, then string theory resolves its uncertainties. It is argued that under these extra mathematical dimensions, perception, observation, and mind could all exist. Two organizations’—the International Academy of Consciousness and the Acem international school of meditation—perspectives on consciousness and the mind are introduced to later be synthesized with string theory to provide support for Drageset’s theory on dimensions and universes stated above. Drageset acknowledges that the field is not complete, but does explain how their ideas could bring together science and the ‘cosmos,’ or what we do not understand about our minds. 

The article will be very useful in connecting how more philosophical thinking has been applied to string theory to create some evidence for previously discredited fields. The impact of string theory on other fields is also apparent in the article, as the mystical-appearing components of the theory can be applied outside of physics. I intend to use the article to relate and exemplify string theory to some heavily theoretical implications.

“We know of only three spatial dimensions, so the extra six dimensions are assumed to be compactified and curled up to such a small size that they cannot be measured. The curling up of dimensions can be done in many different ways (10500) each way gives different laws of physics for the universe. The one way of curling up the dimensions that should give our universe is not yet found. If we let the extra six dimensions be open and used for two parallel universes, one for dark matter and another for dark energy, then we have solved a basic uncertainty with the string theory and we have a proposal on what dark matter and dark energy could be” (Drageset, 2020).

“In other words: String theory opens up for the scientific existence of parallel universes. But until now the string scientists have assumed that all parallel universes use the same space/vacuum—all have the same three spatial dimensions. If, however, the parallel universes have different vacua, laws of physics, and different dimensions (they are different string theory branes) such as explained in the introduction of this article, the total cosmos will look very different and have very different characteristics” (Drageset, 2020)

Gopakumar, R. (2015). String theory and the conundrums of quantum gravity. Current Science (00113891), 109(12), 2265–2270. https://doi-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/10.18520/cs/v109/i12/2265-2270

Gopakumar introduces that quantum mechanics and Einstein’s general relativity—i.e. gravity—still have not reconciled. The main issue often cited between the two is in the discussion of black holes. Quantum field theory is described as an exploration into Yang-Mills theory, developed in 1954, and derived from physicist James Clerk Maxwell’s theories on electromagnetism. Yang-Mills theory is a basis for describing gravity between very small massless quanta. The theories that were originally found to complicate quantum gravity are then explained to have—over time—been resolved to provide evidence for a Yang-Mills derived theory of quantum gravity. String theory was one of these theories, originally proposed to describe the strong force and developed to describe the elements of particles. These elements are massless, one dimensional strings—Gopakumar likens them to rubber bands for closed strings and thread to open strings—which determines particle characteristics through their tension. Closed strings provide foundations for interactions in Einstein gravity, while open strings share the same interactions given by Yang-Mills quantum gravity. Gopakumar claims string theory is not perfect; the main complications arise from how many different string excitations can be hypothesized, but not described in any mathematics. Gopakumar also claims that theories such as supersymmetry may be able to assist in filling up the gaps in string theory, but it will take much more exploring into physics and Large Hadron Collider studies. These explorations we have taken up to this point—such as in black hole physics—do provide support for string theory as a unifier, however some heavy adjustments must still be made to physics to prove the theorem. 

The article provides a very thorough timeline of mathematics and physics in the past 100 years, and describes both the evidence supplied to string theory and the debates with its complications. For the most part, each new study into black holes and fundamental physics provides either support or difficulties with unifying the two theories of gravity. I will use the article to describe the transition of our understanding of gravity and an in-depth description of the intentions of string theory.

“The remarkable successes in understanding black holes gave a great deal of confidence in the ability of string theory to give a consistent description of quantum gravity beyond the perturbative regime of graviton scattering. Examining deeper the underlying reasons for the agreement between the microscopic and macroscopic computations of black hole entropy led to one of the most striking developments of contemporary theoretical physics. This was the so-called gauge–string duality or AdS/CFT correspondence proposed by the Argentinian physicist, Juan Maldacena” (Gopakumar, 2015).

“It was the great insight of Yoneya, and independently, Scherk and Schwarz, to realize that the low energy classical interactions of these massless particles is exactly that given by Einstein gravity (for the closed string) and Yang–Mills gauge fields (for the open string)” (Gopakumar, 2015).

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. https://doi-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/10.3390/e24020181 

Shor, Benninger, and Khrennikov provide a theory derived from string theory called Dendrogramic-Holographic (DH) theory. The aim of this theory is—like string theory—to form a Unified Field Theory between general relativity and quantum theory. DH theory proposes that an event forms hierarchical relations to succeeding events, and that an observer can increase the complexity of these relationships—called dendrograms—by collecting more information. The biggest issue highlighted in previous works in DH theory and string theory is the absence of experimental data to support hypotheses. DH theory is first used to explain relation to general relativity. The authors relate p-adic systems—systems in which outputs of numbers relate to each other via distance from a prime number, p—to the probabilities of event occurrence explained in quantum theory, since the state of elemental particles are determined through probabilities. When geodesics—shortest lines between two points in curved space—are drawn from a Schwarzchild metric of a black hole, dendrograms constructed from such geodesics share the same known information of physical constants. This means that DH theory follows the same laws of gravity stated under Einstein’s general relativity. DH theory is then—in the latter half of the article, and less intently—related to quantum theory, as both theories share the similar component of analyzing event possibilities. The authors claim that DH theory represents quantum theory in its more simple dendrograms, and classical mechanics in its more complex dendrograms, as in quantum mechanics there are less variables intruding on the events that occur than in classical physics.

The article provides another insight into attempting to unify general relativity and quantum theory—a shared aim of string theory. Since at this point in research, physicists are not wholly devoted to one theory over another for unification, each proposal to the matter is vital in understanding where the research may end up in the future. I intend to use this article to compare and contrast against string theory.

“We did not try to quantize GR. We unified QM and GR through a new mathematical representation based on dendrograms (at the epistemic level) and p-adic numbers (ontic level). Quantum systems are represented by simple dendrograms and classical by complex ones. In this framework, the quantum–classical boundary is not sharp. The main characteristic of the quantum-like ensembles of dendrograms (We follow the statistical interpretation of quantum mechanics)” (Shor, O., Benninger, F., & Khrennikov, A., 2022).

“We emphasize that in DH theory all events of the universe are statically present with no dynamics. An apparent casual structure emerges upon maximizing a certain action principle (see Section 8). Thus, the black hole mass, which defines the space… defines also all possible events and thus all possible geodesics and casual structures” (Shor, Benninger, & Khrennikov, 2022).

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

Ruzin makes the overall claim in the article that humans have—for a very long time—have wondered in regards to parallel universes and spiritualism; however in modern day, the scientific studies into quantum mechanics has given a new light to the resurgence, and may be instrumental in solving some of the long asked questions regarding such ideas. The article argues that a choice imposing on an event causes parallel universes where each state between the two choices exists. Schrodinger’s cat is used as an example of this, where after the observation is made on the cat, both its living state and dead state exist distinct from another. Ruzin then compares the Buddhist theory of reincarnation with a main aspect of Hugh Everett’s many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. If an observation is made on a system, the wave packet—a component of the principle of an object—collapses and a state is determined. If no observation is made, then the state continuously changes and has no determined state. This is where Ruzin states Everett draws the basis of his theory—if the system studied is the entire universe as a whole, then there are no outside observers to determine its state, and thus it follows the second process. The arguments drawn from this conclusion are then explained by Ruzin, who applies Everett’s hypothesis to other parts of quantum mechanics. 

The article provides a connecting link between quantum mechanics—and thus string theory—to parallel universes and other touches of fringe science. I intend to use the article in describing this connection thoroughly, and foreground how more discoveries in the subject of string theory and quantum mechanics lead to methods of crediting these unconventional theories.

“By considering the entire universe seen as a quantum system, which therefore contains the observer and the rest of the universe, we find ourselves very embarrassed since its evolution must then be described by a Schrödinger equation. As, by definition, there is no observer outside the universe, it could for example find itself in a state of superposition between a movement of expansion and contraction, without any actualization in one or the other. Neither of these states is real” (Ruzin, 2023).

“Everett’s interpretation suggests the appearance of a multiplicity of classical worlds relating to observers, who have multiple destinies, in a single quantum Universe, described by a single solution of Schrödinger’s equation: the function of universal wave (this is the title of Everett’s thesis)” (Ruzin, 2023).