Essay Sample on 100 Years On: Einstein's General Theory of Relativity & Unanswered Questions

Introduction

The general theory of relativity advanced by Albert Einstein availed physicists with not only an advanced understanding of gravity but also new unanswered questions. Despite the theory being a groundbreaking one, it failed to describe gravity as a consistent quantum theory successfully. Furthermore, Einstein's general theory of relativity failed to link gravity with all the forces of nature. Up to the present time, Einstein's aspirations he had while advancing the general theory of relativity of linking gravity with strong and weak forces of nuclear and electromagnetism into one framework is yet to be achieved or realized. However, later on, two scientists came up with the idea that demanded the addition of dimensions in Einstein's equations to explain the emergence of gravity and electromagnetism from the same theoretical approach (Kiritsis 7). Despite their theory being termed as 'too simple' to describe the universe wholesomely, it eventually became the basis of string theory research courtesy of its idea, which fronted 'compactification' of dimensions.

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The future progress of string theory solely relies on the various conflicting approaches geared towards the subject as well as deeper comprehension of the relationships among them. There would be a clear understanding of exciting questions such as compactification, early universe cosmology, and space-time singularities once string geometry is understood. The string theory era is likely to exist for many decades while having a far-reaching effect in the understanding of fundamental mathematics and physics. The paper is premised on the string theory future.

Physicists continue to look forward to the future as they try their best to come up with a single mathematically consistent framework that links the laws of general relativity with the laws of quantum mechanics. The laws of general relativity are popularly known as the laws of the 'large' while the laws of quantum mechanics labeled as the laws of the 'small.' Without an idea of string theory, mathematical inconsistencies are realized while attempting to combine general relativity and quantum mechanics (Kiritsis 9). String future has a viable future since people need a single mathematically consistent framework because the universe is consistent.

Failure to have such a consistent framework, there will not be a chance to clearly understand the origin of the universe as well as the occurrences at the deep interior of black holes. Despite being a hard nut to crack, melding general relativity and quantum mechanics continue to yield success because of few approaches such as string theory proposal (Dine 4). Scientists continue to work on string theory to harmonize the extreme domains of quantum mechanics and general relativity for several reasons.

Challenges

Firstly, the challenge of the unification of quantum mechanics and gravity presents one of the most critical challenges in fundamental theoretical physics. That is a problem that has continued to attract attention. Per many practitioners, mainly researchers, string theory offers the best convincing and compelling solutions out of the available proposed solutions to that problem (Dine 8).

Through natural incorporation of significant breakthroughs from physics research of the past few decades, string theory offers a single theory that is mathematically persuasive in uniting general relativity and quantum mechanics (Dine 5). The step of unification is considered incredible, and many view it as impressive, and its wheeling in the right direction. As such, it opines a positive aspect of the theory that lies in the future.

Remarkable strides in further advancing and understanding string theory have been made by string theorists over the past few decades. They have claimed that the progress is smooth, and they have not hit brick walls, which may result in it being thwarted (Plauschinn 80). Despite the progress not allowing string theorists to establish contracts with observations or experiments, research remains on a forward momentum due to the rapid and impressive development being realized.

Moreover, string theory has established profound contact with other areas of physics. The whole research area revolving around supersymmetry has been made possible. Supersymmetry is an extension of the standard model which strives to fill gaps through the prediction of partner particles for each particle in the standard model (Plauschinn 100). Today's understanding of the black hole entropy is attributed to string theory.

The currently existing inspiring insights of quark-gluon plasma remain one of the critical milestones of string theory and hence, have a viable future. Current available conventional calculations in the theory of quantum mechanics have been inspired by the theory (Plauschinn 117). For that reason, people can realize that there is a profound nexus between string theory and the theoretical framework of quantum mechanics (the level approach for the description of elementary particles or fermions).

In simple terms, string theory is beyond research, which is isolated and being undertaken in a particular obscure physics corner. String theory has got tentacles, which has enabled it to maneuver through a variety of common areas. As a result, the interest and enthusiasm of string theory continue to remain strong, attributed to its vibrant aspects in the various areas of physics (Plauschinn 122). However, it remains uncertain whether string theory is the long-sought wholesome, encompassing theory that Albert Einstein aspired for, not until physicists develop explicit observational or experimental support.

The furutre of the framework

The future of such a single mathematically consistent framework concerning elementary particles remains bright. The standard model of particles has maintained consistency when it comes to its prediction but not precisely when it comes to stating the masses of particles. Quantum physics fails to incorporate aspects of gravity. For that reason, string theory has been unable to work when applied to more significant objects, which are of macroscopic scale, considering that quantum theory works at insignificant magnitudes scales due to gravity absence (Bergshoeff, Jaume, and Ziqi 133). Concerning the notion of space-time, the scale becomes very fragile since the plank scale presents a space-time doomed calculation.

Also, the standard model lacks elementary particles, but it has mediators, baryons, and lepton alongside other zoos. As per string theory prediction, all elementary particles are composed of similar types of strings, which are either tangled or looped (Bergshoeff, Jaume, and Ziqi 133). Those elementary particles vibrate at particular modes, which ultimately dictate the properties of those elementary particles or their behavior.

The vibrating strings have energy, which when they get in the region of gravitational potential, they act as masses, thus solving one of the problems associated with the standard model. Moving into the future, there is a need for string theorists to engineer some technology or design an exceptional experiment capable of detecting those strings, which are a fundamental interest and concept in physics and engineering. Based on that proposition, it is evident that string theory has a booming future. There also exists the skeptical view regarding string theory. Some researchers, especially physicists, continue to be skeptical concerning the ability of string theory to unite the various fundamental forces of nature (Chakraborty, Amit, and David 45). Those physicists' site strange implications such as extra dimensions and the multiverse as a hindrance towards the path to unite physics into one ultimate theory. Some of those physicists have termed string theory as a failed theory because of its unverifiable predictions regarding the universe (Bergshoeff, Jaume, and Ziqi 131).

Based on the fact that the Large Hadron Collider has been unable to find any hints of importance to string theory contrary to the expectations of theorists, the debate has accelerated whether string theory could unite physics to one grand ultimate theory. In one of the conferences held, which brought together theoretical physicists, questions were asked based on their current beliefs (Kim et al., 71). The results revealed that votes were split evenly, with slightly more than half of the attendees being against prospects of string theory to unite physics.

The remaining physicists floated the idea that string theory is not likely to pan out, and so far, it's a leading step in the right direction. Good or bad science cannot be determined through a poll. However, it informs about the current thoughts of scientists, and going by the poll; it is evident that string theory is having an obscured future (Kim et al., 81). Challenges exist as physicists try to finally materialize Albert Einstein's dream of unifying gravity with the other forces. For instance, string theory is attempting to propose a fresh system of putting down quantum gravity theories. However, researchers are unaware of all the features that are worth putting down and not features of quantum gravity theories alone.

Physicists have a few hints on what specific features of quantum gravity need to avail, yet what they are working on is an exploration of much more technical issues which will not assist in any way in capturing the standard model features. It is unfortunate that up to date, no one has been able to conceive an idea that can definitively refute or verify string theory. In the year 2006, several high-profile articles and books were written, which were skeptical of string theory contributing to the backlash being witnessed (Plauschinn 113). Despite string theory receding from the spotlight, it has not entirely gone away. String theory is still undergoing evolution, and, in the process, it is getting better and better.

Conclusion

In summary, string theory avails a direction towards the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity (gravity). It remains the only idea out of the few alternatives which can provide quantum gravity. For that reason, it is hotly persuaded. String theory continues to promise unlimited bounty.

It carries alongside the notion that energy and matter are fundamentally made up of tiny strings that are in constant vibration as it attempts to unify all the fundamental forces into one elegant package. Many physicists have hailed string theory and christened it as the "theory of everything'' which has been long sought. Researchers are in a position to get both the standard model and general relativity out of string theory if they arrive at sophisticated choices such as 'this the way the math must work.'

String theory undoubtedly will remain one of the most active areas of theoretical physics irrespective of people's feelings concerning its lack of verifiable future trends and people's doubts about its successes and failures. String theory continues to stand out at its core as the leading path to the ultimate one grand unified theory envisioned by many great physicists. Its future can still get determined by new studies and innovations to contribute to the already existing studies and researches.

Works Cited

Bergshoeff, Eric, Jaume Gomis, and Ziqi Yan. "Nonrelativistic string theory and T-duality." Journal of High Energy Physics 2018.11 (2018): 133.
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/JHEP11%282018%29133.pdf

Dine, Michael. Supersymmetry and String Theory: Beyond the Standard Model. Cambridge University Press, 2016.
https://cds.cern.ch/record/1027290/files/0521858410_TOC.pdf

Kiritsis, Elias. String Theory in a Nutshell. Vol. 21. Princeton University Press, 2019.
https://cds.cern.ch/record/1065428/files/9780691122304_TOC.pdf

Chakraborty, Soumangsu, Amit Giveon, and David Kutasov. ", and string theory." Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical 52.38