Randy "ZZ" Muller wrote:
> I would just point out that it sounds like some of the material
> presented was more of the nature of mathematical speculation, rather
> than established physical theory, and that much of the material can
> probably never be proved to exist or not to exist. That doesn't mean
> it's not fun to hear or discuss, of course.
What Randy says is true. The creation of certain particles requires an
environment we cannot recreate in the lab. Prof. Guth brought this up
himself, but also noted that many particles were predicted lonnng before
they were "discovered," the neutrino being one. The particles with
which he deals mathematically are also used by countless others, and are
generally accepted by all particle physicists; the math is just too
good!
By the way, someone asked Prof. Guth what the "best" current candidates
were for dark matter. He said there were quite a few, and included the
neutrino (for "hot" dark matter) and axions through supersymmetric
particles to cryptons (for "cold" dark matter). Some candidates can be
verified or eliminated through particle experiments, while candidates
such as axions and cryptons are welllll beyone the reach of
accelerators. A lot of headway is being made here. Looks like the next
decade of accelerator experiments may determine if the leading
candidates - like the heavy "superpartners" of the photon - are really
the ones. What's needed is a wee bit of time on the Large Hadron
Collider (LHC) under construction at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. Too
bad it doesn't get going 'til 2007!
As far as dark energy goes, Prof. Guth noted that we haven't got a clue.
Tons of theories out there, but all speculation. He said the secret to
its nature probably lies with a better understanding of quantum gravity.
Anybody have the complete quantum theory of gravity in their back
pocket? <grin>
Today it looks like the universe is 1-2% baryonic matter (i.e.,
neutrons, protons, etc.), about 30% dark matter and about 70% dark
energy. Obviously we've got a lonnng way to go with all this, boys and
girls!
...Bob...
Bob Czerwinski