The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory (Vintage) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Dieser Titel ist in englischer Sprache.
Eine der paradoxen Feststellungen der modernen Physik lautet: "In ihrer momentanen Formulierung ist es nicht möglich, daß die allgemeine Relativitätstheorie und die Quantenmechanik richtig sind." Beide sind in ihrem Bereich: Die Relativitätstheorie erklärt das Verhalten des Universums im großen Maßstab, während die Quantenmechanik das Verhalten subatomarer Teilchen beschreibt. Unter extremen Bedingungen wie Schwarzen Löchern kollidieren beide Theorien allerdings. Brian Greene, ein Spezialist in der Quantentheorie, glaubt, daß beide Pfeiler in der Superstring-Theorie vereinigt werden können, einer Theorie für alles. Die Superstring-Theorie ist bereits als Teil der Physik des 21. Jahrhunderts bezeichnet worden, der zufällig bereits im 20. Jahrhundert aufgetaucht ist. Mit anderen Worten: Sie ist noch nicht ganz fertig. Trotz aller Unsicherheiten -- "String-Theoretiker suchen nach ungefähren Lösungen für ungefähre Gleichungen" -- gibt Greene eine Tour d' String, die auch wissenschaftlichen Ansprüchen standhält.

Obwohl Ed Witten vom Institute for Advanced Study in vielerlei Hinsicht der menschliche Held von The Elegant Universe ist, ist dies keine Geschichte über die menschliche Seite der Physik. Greene konzentriert sich auf die Wissenschaft und gibt Nicht-Fachleuten zumindest den Eindruck, zu verstehen -- oder eine Idee von alldem, was man nicht weiß. Und dies ist bekanntlich ja der erste Schritt zum Wissen... --Mary Ellen Curtis, Amazon.com -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

To write a book to explain in simple, non-mathematical terms what superstring theory is in not a simple task. In The Elegant Universe Brian Greene, a physicist who works in the area, does a very good job. Superstrings are a theory of particle physics that lays claim to being the ultimate "Theory of Everything", merging Einstein's relativity and quantum mechanics into an understanding of the physics of the very small and very large in the Universe. Hence to understand superstrings, relativity and quantum mechanics have to be explained as well. In this Brian Greene does a very good job, giving one of the best explainations of relativity I have read in the process. Superstring theory is still very much in its infancy and The Elegant Universe does not claim that all the problems have been solved; in fact a point is made of pointing out all the present deficiencies of the theory.

Probably not a book for the very beginner, but anyone who has read popular accounts of particle physics and relativity should gain a lot from reading this book. In places not an easy read, not for the style (which was generally very easy) but simply for the difficulty of some of the concepts involved. Superstring theory may or may not be the theory of everything but this book will certainly tell you what we think we know so far. Definitely recommended, but don't expect to read it in a weekend. --Simon Goodwin -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

There is an ill-concealed skeleton in the closet of physics: "As they are currently formulated, general relativity and quantum mechanics cannot both be right." Each is exceedingly accurate in its field: general relativity explains the behavior of the universe at large scales, while quantum mechanics describes the behavior of subatomic particles. Yet the theories collide horribly under extreme conditions such as black holes or times close to the big bang. Brian Greene, a specialist in quantum field theory, believes that the two pillars of physics can be reconciled in superstring theory, a theory of everything.

Superstring theory has been called "a part of 21st-century physics that fell by chance into the 20th century." In other words, it isn't all worked out yet. Despite the uncertainties--"string theorists work to find approximate solutions to approximate equations"--Greene gives a tour of string theory solid enough to satisfy the scientifically literate.

Though Ed Witten of the Institute for Advanced Study is in many ways the human hero of The Elegant Universe, it is not a human-side-of-physics story. Greene's focus throughout is the science, and he gives the nonspecialist at least an illusion of understanding--or the sense of knowing what it is that you don't know. And that is traditionally the first step on the road to knowledge. --Mary Ellen Curtin -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

Superstring theory may provide the long-sought unification of physics for which Einstein sought in vain. Here is a look at the current state of the quest. Greene (a professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia and Cornell) begins by pointing out the central problem of modern physics. Quantum mechanics and general relativity both work perfectly, and they cannot both be right. Relativity works for large, massive objects; quantum theory for tiny ones. Normally, the two realms can be kept separate. Yet increasingly, physics deals with phenomena such as black holes, where the conflicts are impossible to avoid. Out of the search for a more complete explanation came string theory. Its foundations were laid down some 30 years ago by Gabriele Venizano, who found that a two-century-old formula by Leonard Euler described subatomic particles more elegantly than existing theory. The relationships would make sense if elementary particles were not pointlike, but elongated and vibrating, like tiny musical stringsin one sense, a modern version of the ancient metaphor of the music of the spheres. It took a while for physicists to embrace string theory; for one thing, it seemed to predict things nobody had ever seen. And despite its formidable explanatory power, its mathematical expressions were often even more formidableGreene describes some of the equations as nearly impossible to understand, let alone solve. Still, it has the right look about it, and two waves of enthusiasm (one in the mid-1980s, the other ten years later) have convinced many physicists of the theory's probable validity. Greene deftly summarizes these findings, in areas from subatomic-particle theory to cosmology, with occasional forays into deeper waters such as the ten-dimensional structure of the universe, with several dimensions folded undetectably back into themselves. A final chapter forecasts that string theory will become the standard physical model in the next century. Entertaining and well-writtenpossibly the clearest popular treatment to date of this complex subject. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

Based on the best-selling 1999 book, this long abridgment describes the inconsistencies between the theory of general relativity and quantum mechanics. No reader yet.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

"The Elegant Universe is compulsively readable.... Greene threatens to do for string theory what Stephen Hawking did for black holes."  -New York

"[An] important book.... The Elegant Universe presents the ideas and aspirations-and some of the characters-of string theory with clarity and charm."  -Scientific American

"As good as it gets.... [A] thrilling ride through a lovely landscape."  -Los Angeles Times

"[Greene] writes with poetic eloquence and style.... [He] does an admirable job of translating a wholly mathematical endeavor into visual terms."  -The Washington Post Book World

"[Greene's metaphors oftten provide beauty and power.... The Elegant Universe is a rewarding read."  -Discovery Magazine

"String theory is the hottest idea to emerge in physics since Stephen Hawking gazed into a black hole.... [Greene] explain[s] it in terms that anyone can understand."  -San Francisco Chronicle

Was ist Raum? Was ist Zeit? Warum ist unser Universum, wie es ist? Und weshalb ist die Vorstellung, daß alle Materie aus vibrierenden Superstrings besteht, so revolutionär? Weil sie ein Dilemma lösen könnte, an dem nicht nur Einstein gescheitert ist...
"Das elegante Universum" ist ein Kompendium unseres physikalischen Wissens. Es erzählt von der Schönheit und den Grundlagen der String-Theorie, von den Erwartungen und Hoffnungen, die sich an sie knüpfen, aber auch von den herausragenden Wissenschaftlern, die sich der Suche nach der Weltformel verschrieben haben. -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine andere Ausgabe: Taschenbuch .

What A Concept!
This is one of the best books I have ever read. If you are interested in the cosmos, relativity, the superstring theory, and other stuff like that, this book is for you. Containing fundamental principles, combined with everyday logic, Brian Greene explains how you cannot exceed light speed, and giving proofs to other theories. Also incorperating humor, "You look too your friend, but they appear insane. Their hair is spikey and their eyes crazed. You look in their hand for the baseball, but instead, you find a hand grenade. You turn around to run at 12 mph, just as your friend lobs the hand grenade towards you at 20 mph....."

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Brian Greene zählt zu den führenden Physikern auf dem Gebiet der Superstrings. Er studierte in Harvard und promovierte in Oxford. Seit 1990 lehrt er an verschiedenen Universitäten und ist heute Professor für Physik und Mathematik an der Columbia University in New York.