A Theory of Everything
For decades theoretical physicists have been looking for a unified field theory, a “theory of everything” which will map the relationships between the strong and weak atomic forces and allow us to predict the nature of yet undetected subatomic particles. Einstein dedicated most of his life to this quest and ended in failure.
This quest took an unconventional yet exciting step forward this week with the announcement of a new paper proposed by theoretical Physicist (and sometime surf dude) Garrett Lisi who bases his theory around the geometry of E8, a 248 point mathematical pattern first found in 1888.
All fields of the standard model and gravity are unified as an E8 principal bundle connection. A non-compact real form of the E8 Lie algebra has G2 and F4 subalgebras which break down to strong su(3), electroweak su(2) x u(1), gravitational so(3,1), the frame-Higgs, and three generations of fermions related by triality. The interactions and dynamics of these 1-form and Grassmann valued parts of an E8 superconnection are described by the curvature and action over a four dimensional base manifold.
His theory will be put to the test when the Large Hadron Collider starts up sometime next year and scientists can search for the twenty new particles which his theory has predicted. I’ve given his paper a quick once-over, not that I’m an expert but it certainly looks promising. Exciting days.
Update : In the interests of balance, a post critical of the paper.
…and Garrett fights back (with better manners).
(Dr Lisi purportedly says:) “String theory is something that doesn’t work, for guys without charm or a personality. No romantic prospect worth talking to will take a string theorist seriously.”
…
Dr Lisi is not fazed [by Motl's attacks]. “String theory is a dying field,” he said. “I mean, it’s not like they’re going to reproduce.”Link
Even-handed critique with arguments between main players - very interesting.
Whoah! It’s a totally gnarley theory dude - Awsome!
Einstein, of course, refused to accept Quantum theory and the uncertainty principle.
I shall download the paper, give it whirl and report back when I have ruminated on it.
The most unattractive feature are the extra assumptions he needs to write down an action that gives the correct equations of motion.
Therefore we wait and see unless physicist and part-time blogger Crushed comes up with The Answer.
Lisi admits that his theory is incomplete, the title of the paper is a tongue in cheek poke at the string theory gang. I’m sure there are problems but a fresh approach can perhaps move the rather addled science forward a bit, that will be an achievement in itself.
I was working on a similar theory myself but I have been pipped to the post!!