|
Nov 24
2009
|
  |
|
One of the reasons our physics is incomplete during the Planck era is a lack of understanding of the unification of the forces of Nature during this time. At high energies and temperatures, the forces of Nature become symmetric. This means the forces resemble each other and become similar in strength, i.e. they unify. When the forces break from unification (as the Universe expands and cools) interesting things happen.
|
An example of unification is to consider the interaction of the weak
and electromagnetic forces. At low  energy, photons and W,Z particles
are the force carriers for the electromagnetic and weak forces. The
W and Z particles are very massive and, thus, require alot of energy
(E=mc2). At high energies, photons
take on similar energies to W and Z particles, and the forces become
unified into the electroweak force.
There is the expectation that all the nuclear forces of matter (strong,
weak and electromagnetic) unify at extremely high temperatures under a
principle known as Grand Unified Theory, an extension of The final unification resolves the relationship between quantum forces and gravity (supergravity). In the early Universe, the physics to predict the behavior of matter is determined by which forces are unified and the form that they take. The interactions just at the edge of the Planck era are ruled by supergravity, the quantum effects of mini-black holes. After the separation of gravity and nuclear forces, the spacetime of the Universe is distinct from matter and radiation. |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
