Re: Superstring Theory Explanation

Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
16 Feb 1999 17:21:07 +0100

"Michael S. Lorrey" <retroman@together.net> writes:

> > However, I'm not entirely certain the 10 components of g explain why
> > there are 10 (11) dimensions in string theory, the last paper I read
> > about it ("M-theory for laymen" or something similar, available from
> > xxx.lanl.gov) just made me more confused.
>
> Yeah, its intimidating as to the confidence they have in the 'layman' to understand what they
> are talking about. Then again, it is a government page....mix physicistese with bureaucratese
> and its a wonder its readable at all. ;)

Actually, I must defend xxx.lanl.gov. It is an excellent preprint archive that just happens to be at Lawrence Livermore. The articles are submitted by individual physicists, and their incomprehensibility is completely due to the physicists themselves :-)

By the way, the article I was referring to was http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/hep-th/9805177
"A Layman's Guide to M-theory" by M. J. Duff

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Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
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