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Can the Laws of Physics Be Unified?
A concise introduction to the cutting-edge science of particle physics
The standard model of particle physics describes our current understanding of nature's fundamental particles and their interactions, yet gaps remain. For example, it does not include a quantum theory of gravity, nor does it explain the existence of dark matter. Once complete, however, the standard model could provide a unified description of the very building blocks of the universe. Researchers have been chasing this dream for decades, and many wonder whether such a dream can ever be made a reality.
Can the Laws of Physics Be Unified? is a short introduction to this exciting frontier of physics. The book is accessibly written for students and researchers across the sciences, and for scientifically minded general readers. Paul Langacker begins with an overview of the key breakthroughs that have shaped the standard model, and then describes the fundamental particles, their interactions, and their role in cosmology. He goes on to explain field theory, internal symmetries, Yang-Mills theories, strong and electroweak interactions, the Higgs boson discovery, and neutrino physics. Langacker then looks at the questions that are still unanswered: What is the nature of the mysterious dark matter and dark energy that make up roughly 95 percent of the universe? Why is there more matter than antimatter? How can we reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity?
Can the Laws of Physics Be Unified? describes the promising theoretical ideas and new experiments that could provide answers and weighs our prospects for establishing a truly unified theory of the smallest constituents of nature and their interactions.
The standard model of particle physics describes our current understanding of nature's fundamental particles and their interactions, yet gaps remain. For example, it does not include a quantum theory of gravity, nor does it explain the existence of dark matter. Once complete, however, the standard model could provide a unified description of the very building blocks of the universe. Researchers have been chasing this dream for decades, and many wonder whether such a dream can ever be made a reality.
Can the Laws of Physics Be Unified? is a short introduction to this exciting frontier of physics. The book is accessibly written for students and researchers across the sciences, and for scientifically minded general readers. Paul Langacker begins with an overview of the key breakthroughs that have shaped the standard model, and then describes the fundamental particles, their interactions, and their role in cosmology. He goes on to explain field theory, internal symmetries, Yang-Mills theories, strong and electroweak interactions, the Higgs boson discovery, and neutrino physics. Langacker then looks at the questions that are still unanswered: What is the nature of the mysterious dark matter and dark energy that make up roughly 95 percent of the universe? Why is there more matter than antimatter? How can we reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity?
Can the Laws of Physics Be Unified? describes the promising theoretical ideas and new experiments that could provide answers and weighs our prospects for establishing a truly unified theory of the smallest constituents of nature and their interactions.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published February 28, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
October 31, 2017
This is definitely something beyond your standard pop physics book, though not yet at the level of a textbook. I expect the interested amateur will come away from it mystified; the author expects as a matter of course that you're familiar with the conceptual ideas of gauge theories, or how the terms of a Lagrangian correspond to possible interactions. However there is very little serious mathematics beyond the occasional Lagrangian term.
I think the target audience is something like seniors or first year graduate students in physics, people who know some quantum field theory but would like an introduction to the (very current) state of the art in the Standard Model. And for that purpose it does well. I'm close to the target audience, and I admit I was pretty happy with it; but be warned that it's very much a specialized taste.
I think the target audience is something like seniors or first year graduate students in physics, people who know some quantum field theory but would like an introduction to the (very current) state of the art in the Standard Model. And for that purpose it does well. I'm close to the target audience, and I admit I was pretty happy with it; but be warned that it's very much a specialized taste.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review