Quantum Space, Jim Baggott
Quantum Space, Jim Baggott
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Quantum Space
Loop Quantum Gravity and the Search for the Structure of Space, Time, and the Universe

Author: Jim Baggott

Narrator: Nigel Patterson

Unabridged: 10 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 07/24/2019

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

Today we are blessed with two extraordinarily successful theories of physics. The first is Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, which describes the large-scale behavior of matter in a curved spacetime. The second is quantum mechanics. This theory describes the properties and behavior of matter and radiation at their smallest scales.

But, while they are both highly successful, these two structures leave a lot of important questions unanswered. They are also based on two different interpretations of space and time, and are therefore fundamentally incompatible. We have two descriptions but, as far as we know, we've only ever had one universe. What we need is a quantum theory of gravity.

Approaches to formulating such a theory have primarily followed two paths. One leads to String Theory, which has for long been fashionable, and about which much has been written. But String Theory has become mired in problems. Combining clear discussions of both quantum theory and general relativity, this book offers one of the first efforts to explain the new quantum theory of space and time.

About Jim Baggott

Jim Baggott is a freelance science writer. He was a lecturer in chemistry at the University of Reading but left to pursue a business career, where he first worked with Shell International Petroleum Company and then as an independent business consultant and trainer. His many books include The First War of Physics, Beyond Measure: Modern Physics, Philosophy and the Meaning of Quantum Theory, A Beginner's Guide to Reality, and The Quantum Story: A History in 40 Moments.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Brian on December 10, 2018

There's no doubt that Jim Baggott is one of the best popular science writers currently active. He specialises in taking really difficult topics and giving a more in-depth look at them than most of his peers. The majority of the time he achieves with a fluid writing style that remains easily readable......more

Goodreads review by Dan on March 03, 2019

While there have been many works that have probed the more counter-intuitive and mind-bending notions from string theory, very few books have tackled the other major theory describing that most important of current issues in theoretical physics, namely Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG). As he has for numer......more

Goodreads review by Nilesh on June 28, 2020

Reality is what it is. One day, we will figure out if fundamentally, it is more in line with what loop quantum gravity posits, or what string- or some versions of M-theory say it is, or something totally different. For the folks of this generation, chances are quite high that this question remains u......more

Goodreads review by A on December 02, 2018

3.5 stars. This books tells the story of the development of Loop Quantum Gravity, a theory that explains the emergence of discrete spacetime. At the beginning the history of relativity and quantum mechanics was well told. Several parts describing string theory and LQG were kind of obscure and may ha......more