On Space and Time PDF
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Canto is a paperback imprint M which offers a broad range of a j titles, both classic and more id recent, representing some of O the best and most enjoyable n S of Cambridge publishing. p a c e a Edited by n d Shahn Majid T im e With contributions by Alain Connes, Michael Heller, Roger Penrose, John Polkinghorne, Andrew Taylor On Space and Time This book gets to the heart of science by asking a fundamental question about its essence: what is the true nature of space and time? Both defy modern physics, and scientists find themselves continually searching for answers. This unique volume brings together world leaders in cosmology, particle physics, quantum gravity, mathematics, philosophy and theology, to provide fresh insights into the deep structure of space and time. In an attempt to understand the question, subjects ranging from dark matter to the philosophical and theological implications of spacetime are covered, ensuring that the issue is thoroughly explored. Interesting and thought-provoking answers provide a well- rounded read. ‘ ... a unique collection of essays ... the philosophical Edited by content is thought-provoking ... a worthwhile read’. Federation of Astronomical Societies Newsletter Majid On Space and Time Cover image: © Floriana Barbu Cover design: Andrew Ward This page intentionally left blank On Space and Time Whatisthetruenatureofspaceandtime?Theseconceptsareatthe heartofscience,andareoftentakenforgrantedevenbypractising scientists,but,asthisvolumeexplains,theyremaindeeplywrapped inenigma.Theirstructureatboththesmallestpre-subatomicand thelargestcosmologicallevelscontinuestodefymodernphysicsand mayrequirerevolutionarynewideasforwhichscienceisstill grasping. Thisuniquevolumebringstogetherworldleadersincosmology, particlephysics,quantumgravity,mathematics,philosophyand theology,toprovidefreshinsightsintothedeepstructureofspace andtimeanditswidercontext.AndrewTaylorexplainstheevidence fordarkmatteranddarkenergy.ShahnMajidarguesthatspaceand timeshouldbequantum.RogerPenroseexplainswhatinhisview comesbeforethe‘BigBang’.AlainConnesarguesthatmatteris geometryasafinestructuretospacetime.MichaelHellerexplores thephilosophicalandtheologicalimplicationsofspacetime.John Polkinghornearguesforatheoryofhowtimeunfolds. Inthisbook,expertsoffer–ingenerallynontechnicallanguage– somedistinctiveperspectivesonthefundamentalmysteriesand gapsinourgraspofphysicalreality...enlighteningandfascinating toanyonewithanenquiringmindwhohaseverwondered‘didtime haveabeginning?’,‘isspaceinfinite’,‘whyaretherethree dimensions?’or‘doesspacehaveanatomicstructure’? MartinRees,ProfessorofCosmologyandAstrophysics,University ofCambridge,andauthorofGravity’sFatalAttraction On Space and Time alain connes, michael heller, shahn majid, roger penrose, john polkinghorne and andrew taylor Edited by shahn majid cambridge university press Cambridge,NewYork,Melbourne,Madrid,CapeTown,Singapore,Sa˜oPaulo, Delhi, Mexico City CambridgeUniversityPress TheEdinburghBuilding,CambridgeCB28RU,UK PublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericabyCambridgeUniversityPress,NewYork www.cambridge.org Informationonthistitle:www.cambridge.org/9781107641686 (cid:2)C CambridgeUniversityPress2008 Thispublicationisincopyright.Subjecttostatutoryexception andtotheprovisionsofrelevantcollectivelicensingagreements, noreproductionofanypartmaytakeplacewithout thewrittenpermissionofCambridgeUniversityPress. Firstpublished2008 Third printing 2011 Canto Classics edition 2012 Printedand bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY AcataloguerecordforthispublicationisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary LibraryofCongressCataloguinginPublicationdata Onspaceandtime/AlainConnes...[etal.];editedbyShahnMajid. p. cm. Includesindex. ISBN978-0-521-88926-1(hardback) 1.Spaceandtime. I.Connes,Alain. II.Majid,Shahn. III.Title. QC173.59.S65O49 2008 523.1–dc22 2008013428 ISBN 978-1-107-64168-6Paperback CambridgeUniversityPresshasnoresponsibilityforthepersistenceoraccuracy of URLsforexternalorthird-partyinternetwebsitesreferredtointhispublication, anddoesnotguaranteethatanycontentonsuchwebsitesis,orwillremain, accurateorappropriate. Information regarding prices, travel timetables and other factual information given in this work are correct at the time of first printing butCambridge University Press does not guarantee the accuracy of such information thereafter . ‘Absolute,true,andmathematicaltime,ofitself,andfromitsown nature,flowsequablywithoutrelationtoanythingexternal’ IsaacNewton ‘Alreadythedistance-conceptislogicallyarbitrary;thereneedbe nothingsthatcorrespondtoit,evenapproximately’ AlbertEinstein ‘Thefutureofourspaceandtime/Isnotgonnawitheranddie/ Thefutureofourspaceandtime/Isnotgonnasaygood-bye’ VanessaParadis/LennyKravitz This page intentionally left blank Contents Abouttheauthors pageviii Preface xi 1 ThedarkUniverse 1 andrew taylor 2 Quantumspacetimeandphysicalreality 56 shahn majid 3 Causality,quantumtheoryandcosmology 141 roger penrose 4 Onthefinestructureofspacetime 196 alain connes 5 Wherephysicsmeetsmetaphysics 238 michael heller 6 Thenatureoftime 278 john polkinghorne Index 284 About the authors AlainConnesholdsthechairinAnalysisandGeometry attheCollegedeFranceandisProfessorattheIHESin ParisandatVanderbiltUniversityintheUSA.Awardeda FieldsMedalin1982andtheCrafoordPrizein2002,he haspioneeredthefieldofnoncommutativegeometryand itsdiverseapplicationsinpuremathematicsandphysics. Heisauthorofamajortextbookinthefieldand numerousresearcharticles. MichaelHellerisProfessorofPhilosophyatthe PontificalAcademyofTheologyinCracow,Poland,and anadjunctmemberoftheVaticanObservatorystaff.An ordainedRomanCatholicpriest,heisauthorof numerousbooksandresearcharticlesoncosmology, philosophyandtheology. ShahnMajidisProfessorofMathematicsatQueenMary, UniversityofLondon.Trainedasatheoreticalphysicist andmathematicianatCambridgeandHarvard,hehelped pioneerthetheoryofquantumsymmetryinthe1980s and1990s.Heisauthoroftwotextbooksinthefieldand numerousresearcharticles. SirRogerPenroseisEmeritusRouseBallProfessorof MathematicsattheUniversityofOxford.Awardedthe 1988WolfPrizejointlywithStephenHawking,he discoveredtwistortheoryinthe1970sandhasnumerous otherresultsfromtilingstoastrophysicsandquantum theory.PopularbookssuchasTheEmperor’sNewMind havepresentedhisideasaboutthehumanmindandthe relationshipsbetweenmathematicsandphysics.
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