String theory to the rescue
Joseph Polchinski
(Submitted on 8 Dec 2015 (v1), last revised 10 Dec 2015 (this version, v2))
The search for a theory of quantum gravity faces two great challenges: the incredibly small scales of the Planck length and time, and the possibility that the observed constants of nature are in part the result of random processes. A priori, one might have expected these to be insuperable obstacles. However, clues from observed physics, and the discovery of string theory, raise the hope that the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity is within reach.
Comments: Prepared for the meeting "Why Trust a Theory? Reconsidering Scientific Methodology in Light of Modern Physics", Munich, Dec. 7-9, 2015. v2,3: small additions
Subjects: High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th); History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph)
Cite as: arXiv:1512.02477 [hep-th]
(or arXiv:1512.02477v2 [hep-th] for this version)
Submission history
From: Joseph Polchinski [view email]
[v1] Tue, 8 Dec 2015 14:15:36 GMT (57kb,D)
[v2] Thu, 10 Dec 2015 08:25:57 GMT (58kb,D)
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