The Thermodynamic Universe

The Thermodynamic Universe

Modern physics was forged in a reductionist mold—i.e., with the assumption that the cosmos could be completely explained by breaking it down into its most fundamental elements. The resulting framework, comprising the standard model of particle physics and general relativity, has been successful, but only to a point. Many mysteries, such as the identity of dark matter and dark energy, remain unsolved. B. G. Sidharth, in The Thermodynamic Universe, presents an alternative framework in which the basic properties of physics are rooted in collective or cooperative phenomena. His approach, revealed in these pages, not only agrees with experiment and observation but also reduces to conventional theories in limiting cases. Sidharth’s new paradigm has been dubbed “fuzzy spacetime.” Its core principle is that the physical laws that govern the Universe were not set a priori at the moment of the Big Bang, but have arisen as a result of fluctuations occurring among particles and fields. For example, both the velocity of light and the value of the gravitational constant are not arbitrary numbers, but can be deduced from thermodynamic and stochastic considerations. The first two chapters summarize the mainstream approach to physics and posit the viability of emergent laws. Subsequent chapters summarize Sidharth’s “universe of fluctuations,” and show how it can be applied to describe phenomena on both the largest and smallest scales of nature. Several surprising revelations follow. For example, dark energy, which came as a shock when it was discovered by mainstream cosmologists in 1998, is actually a logical consequence of fuzzy spacetime; the theory predicts that the Universe’s expansion will be accelerating via a small cosmological constant. Additionally, a series of so-called “large number coincidences”—links between seemingly unrelated physical values—can be satisfactorily explained by Sidharth’s framework. The Thermodynamic Universe presents a fruitful and thought-provoking alternative to mainstream theories about physics.

Hardcover: 304 pages

Publisher: World Scientific ( May 01, 2009 )

Item #: 08-3894

ISBN: 9789812812346

Product Dimensions: 6.0 x 9.0 x 0.0 inches

Product Weight: 20.0 ounces