From [formula omitted]-matrix theory to strings: Scattering data and the commitment to non-arbitrariness.
The early history of string theory is marked by a shift from strong interaction physics to quantum gravity. The first string models and associated theoretical framework were formulated in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the context of the S -matrix program for the strong interactions. In the mid-1...
| Publicado en: | Studies in History & Philosophy of Science Part A Vol. 104; pp. 130 - 150 |
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| Formato: | Artículo |
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Elsevier B.V.
Apr2024
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=176466684&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 176466684 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00393681 HPS jtl: Studies in History & Philosophy of Science Part A issn: 00393681 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Apr2024 vid: 104 pid: 2410 pub: Elsevier B.V. artinfo: ui: 176466684 10.1016/j.shpsa.2023.12.011 ppf: 130 ppct: 20 formats: tig: atl: From [formula omitted]-matrix theory to strings: Scattering data and the commitment to non-arbitrariness. aug: au: van Leeuwen, Robert affil: Institute for Theoretical Physics, Vossius Center for History of the Humanities and the Sciences, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94485, 1090 GL, Amsterdam, the Netherlands su: Quantum theory String theory History of physics Quantum gravity Physicists Historical analysis Model-based reasoning sug: subj: Quantum theory String theory History of physics Quantum gravity Physicists Historical analysis Model-based reasoning keyword: Bootstrap Duality History and philosophy of physics History of string theory Non-arbitrariness [formula omitted]-matrix theory ab: The early history of string theory is marked by a shift from strong interaction physics to quantum gravity. The first string models and associated theoretical framework were formulated in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the context of the S -matrix program for the strong interactions. In the mid-1970s, the models were reinterpreted as a potential theory unifying the four fundamental forces. This paper provides a historical analysis of how string theory was developed out of S -matrix physics, aiming to clarify how modern string theory, as a theory detached from experimental data, grew out of an S -matrix program that was strongly dependent upon observable quantities. Surprisingly, the theoretical practice of physicists already turned away from experiment before string theory was recast as a potential unified quantum gravity theory. With the formulation of dual resonance models (the "hadronic string theory"), physicists were able to determine almost all of the models' parameters on the basis of theoretical reasoning. It was this commitment to "non-arbitrariness", i.e., a lack of free parameters in the theory, that initially drove string theorists away from experimental input, and not the practical inaccessibility of experimental data in the context of quantum gravity physics. This is an important observation when assessing the role of experimental data in string theory. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y dt: @attributes: year: 2024 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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