The role of gravity in string theory from "summary" of The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory by Brian Greene
The concept of gravity in the context of string theory is a fundamental component of the theory itself. In the framework of string theory, gravity is not viewed as a force that acts at a distance, as in Newtonian physics, but rather as a manifestation of the geometry of space-time. This means that the presence of matter and energy in the universe warps the fabric of space-time, causing objects to move in curved paths. The key idea in string theory is that particles are not point-like objects but rather tiny, vibrating strings. These strings can be open or closed, and their different vibrations correspond to different particles. One of the consequences of this view is that gravity is also mediated by these strings. In other words, gravity is not a separate force but emerges from the interactions of these strings. The role of gravity in string theory is crucial for understanding how the theory can potentially unify all the fundamental forces of nature. In the framework of string theory, gravity is just one aspect of a larger, unified theory that encompasses all the fundamental forces. This is in contrast to conventional physics, where gravity is treated separately from the other forces. One of the challenges of incorporating gravity into string theory is that it requires the existence of extra dimensions beyond the familiar three spatial dimensions and one time dimension. These extra dimensions are compactified, or curled up, at very small scales, making them invisible to our everyday experience. It is in these extra dimensions that the strings can vibrate and interact in ways that give rise to the force of gravity.- Physicists hope to eventually develop a complete and consistent theory of quantum gravity. This theory would not only describe the behavior of gravity at the smallest scales but also explain how it fits in with the other fundamental forces of nature. Ultimately, the quest for a unified theory of physics, incorporating gravity and the other forces, is a central goal of modern theoretical physics.
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