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Slide 1: The Universe - A Quest for Reality - By Nina Niermann, Julia Panczyk & Lisa Timmermann Emergent Complexity in Physics 17.12.2004
Slide 2: Table of Contents • A short History of Physics  Newton  Einstein  QM  prospective unified theories • Cosmology  challenges of recent discoveries • concluding thoughts
Slide 3: Milestones in Physics Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) • universal gravitation • laws of motion • groudwork for classical mechanics Albert Einstein (1879-1955) • special relativity • general relativity • photoelectric effect Quantum Mechanics • quantization • particle-wave duality
Slide 4: The Standard Model Categorized according to mass: • Leptons • Mesons • Baryons Hadrons  Quarks Categorized according to spin: • Bosons • Fermions
Slide 5: Confrontation of Two Successful Theories Quantum Field Theory  deals with particles  assumes fixed spacetime (special coordinates)  gravity caused by gravitons  quantized energy  includes standard model micro scale General Relativity  dynamic spacetime  no objective frame of reference (independent coordinates)  gravity = curved spacetime  time slower in gravity field macro scale
Slide 6: GUTS and TOES 2 prominent attempts of solving the problem:  String Theory  Loop Quantum Gravity  Unificatie
Slide 7: A link between macro and micro • string = single elementary building block • particle types = different vibrational modes • purely mathematical „Its incompleteness is strength as well as weakness of the theory“ String Theory
Slide 8: 100 Years of Progress • individual versus collective • quantum mechanics & string theory: results of collaboration  new media: reaction to reaction to reaction... • interdisciplinary cooperation
Slide 9: The Modern Universe • Fast-paced progression in cosmology • Striking developments:      cosmic background radiation (WMAP) dark matter dark energy expansion of the universe acceleration of expansion Good for you...
Slide 10: Dynamic Universe • Einstein: static universe  introduction of cosmological constant • detection of redshift  expansion • acceleration
Slide 11: Cosmic Background Radiation • accidentally detected in 1960s • radiation from era of recombination • WMAP produces image of CBR (2003) • density fluctuation
Slide 12: Dark Matter & Dark Energy • hints for existance:  cosmic background radiation  critical mass density • • • • • 2-5 % luminous matter ~ 25 % dark matter ~ 70 % dark energy prominent candidate for dark matter: neutralino candidates for dark energy: vacuum energy, cosmological constant
Slide 13: Dijkgraafian Thoughts • challenges to string theory:  create complete picture  incorporation and prediction of new discoveries  Large Hadron Collider • modern research: no one way street • derivation of spacetime • „It‘s all about asking questions!“
Slide 14: Any questions... ... from the experts?
Slide 15: May the Force be with you... Nina Niermann Julia Panczyk Lisa Timmermann Special Thanks to: Prof. Robbert Dijkgraaf Prof. Ronald Westra