Synopses & Reviews
Geared to the layperson, a clear, concise, non-mathematical explanation of the "Theory of Everything" and its profound implications is followed by transcripts of interviews with most of the physicists involved in its development.
Synopsis
Superstring theory is one of the most exciting and actively pursued branches of physics today. The far-reaching claims made for this theory would, if correct, provide the much sought-after Theory of Everything, the unification of physics. It would enable the fundamental building blocks of matter to be identified and amalgamated in a common description, with a unified theory of all the forces of nature. This book explains the theory for laymen, in an introduction to the subject which originated in the BBC Radio programme, Desperately Seeking Superstrings.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction; 1.1. What is a theory of everything?; 1.2. Unity at the heart of nature; 1.3. The theory of relativity; 1.4. The Quantum theory; 1.5. The word of subatomic particles; 1.6. The four forces; 1.7. Messenger particles; 1.8. Symmetry and supersymmetry; 1.9. Unification of the forces; 1.10. Unified gauge theories; 1.11. Supergravity; 1.12. Mathematical diseases; 1.13. String theory; 2. John Schwartz; 3. Edward Witten; 4. Michael Green; 5. David Gross; 6. John Ellis; 7. Abdus Salam; 8. Sheldon Glashow; 9. Richard Feynman; 10. Steven Weinberg.