Henry Harris

English 21003

Professor Zayas

Research Paper Proposal

10-21-24

String Theory and Theoretical Implications

I am studying the topic of string theory and the implications of the theory in other physics studies. String theory is a description of how mass exists in the universe formulated to fill in the gaps that exist in Einstein’s field theories. Since the formulas of general relativity—a theory by Einstein to describe how gravity works and originates from in the universe—fail when being applied to quantum mechanics, physicists in more recent times have attempted to create a theory that applies general relativity to quantum physics, called the Unified Field Theory (UFT). String theory is one of the attempts at describing the possible UFT, and explains that instead of different particles being constructed with single-dimensional points, particle identities—i.e. electron or neutrino—are determined by the spinning of ‘strings’ or massless lines. The formation of  a UFT would change our understanding of the universe on the fundamental scale in how particles truly act, and could reveal the nature of the unknown parts of physics such as dark energy and matter. 

String theory is still in its early development. Since it is a proposed theory for a field of physics that we already know little about, most of the research and math is experimental in nature. I know quite a bit already about the theory—its main elements and the gaps it is trying to fill in general relativity and quantum mechanics—however the exact implications of the theory, if valid, is something I have not begun to explore. Primarily I would like to look into how more fringe and theoretical theories such as those regarding wormholes, parallel universes, and multidimensions are actually supported by new research in string theory and quantum physics as a larger field. 

The research I will conduct will be into the more philosophical discussions of string theory—although wholly backed by math—which are used to discuss the validity of scientific hypotheses which were previously considered but not heavily devoted to. This means my research will be beginning with the mathematical and scientific foundations of string theory then move onto the discussion of what this theory could mean for physics as a whole.

Possible Sources:

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. https://doi-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/10.18520/cs/v109/i12/2265-2270

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