arlie petters duke university nagle lecture usf

Arlie Petters

Duke University

Nagle Lecture USF

April 1, 2010

Einstein 1915: General Relativity

• Our universe is 4D: 1 Time + 3D-Space

• Space and time are not independent

- form a spacetime continuum

Einstein 1915: General Relativity

• Massive objects deform spacetime

- causes gravitational lensing

Gravitational Lensing by Star

• 1936: Einstein (Science 84, 506)

B

A star

source

DOUBLE IMAGES

Gravitational Lensing Assumes thatSpace is 3-Dimensional

Einstein madethis

assumption

Experience shows thatspace is 3D

• String theory

- elementary particles and forces arise from

vibrating strings

• Braneworld theory

- our universe floats in a 5D WORLD

1 Time + 4D-Space!

What is Braneworld Theory?

Credits: NYT Science

Braneworld TheoryRandall-Sundrum Formulation

• Our universe is a membrane (or brane) in a

5D World

• All particles and forces in our universe, except gravity, are stuck on our brane

Credits: NYT Science

Braneworld TheoryRandall-Sundrum Formulation

• See inside a closed room

• See all sides of a box simultaneously

What can beings from the 5th dimension do that we cannot?

View From the 5th Dimension

• Remove objects from inside a safe without opening the safe




• Come very close to you without you seeing them


• Could flip your organs if you leave brane



The Boy Who Reversed HimselfWilliam Sleator (1986)

• Cube (3D): 8 vertices, 12 edges, 6 squares

• Hypercube (4D): 16 vertices, 32 edges,

24 squares, 8 cubesHYPERCUBE

Geometry of 4D-Objects

Detecting Extra-Solar Planets

Projection of Hypercube

Grande Arche, ParisJohann Otto von Spreckelsen

Salvador Dali

Crucifixion(Corpus Hypercubus)

How can we know that there is a 5th dimension?

• Find a braneworld black hole

Keeton & Petters (2006)

• Mini black holes formed in early universe

early universe

Braneworld Black Holes Versus Regular Black Holes

• Microscopic black holes in Einstein’s theory

Mass less than asteroid Fizzled out by now

asteroid


asteroid

early universe


• Microscopic black holes in braneworld theory

Mass less than asteroid May exist today

• Braneworld black hole’s imprint on light


How to detect a braneworld black hole?

• 1801: Thomas Young’s double slit experiment

Wave Nature of Light

source

lens plane

observer

Gravitational Lensing

star

B

A

Interpret as a Young double slit experiment

Einstein: Double Images

source

B

A

lens planeFrin

ge

Pa

ttern

Double Images as Young Double Slit

source

lens plane



• Look for fringe patterns from braneworld black hole lensing


Gamma Ray Bursts



Predicted Gamma Ray Fringe Pattern due to a Braneworld Black Hole

FERMI Gamma-Ray Space Telescope

arlie petters duke university nagle lecture usf

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