The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology: Celebrating Stephen Hawking's Contributions to PhysicsG. W. Gibbons, E. P. S. Shellard, S. J. Rankin Based on lectures given in honour of Stephen Hawking's sixtieth birthday, this book comprises contributions from some of the world's leading theoretical physicists. It begins with a section containing chapters by successful scientific popularisers, bringing to life both Hawking's work and other exciting developments in physics. The book then goes on to provide a critical evaluation of advanced subjects in modern cosmology and theoretical physics. Topics covered include the origin of the universe, warped spacetime, cosmological singularities, quantum gravity, black holes, string theory, quantum cosmology and inflation. As well as providing a fascinating overview of the wide variety of subject areas to which Stephen Hawking has contributed, this book represents an important assessment of prospects for the future of fundamental physics and cosmology. |
Contents
Brandon Carter Department dAstrophysique Rela | 5 |
Popular symposium | 15 |
Theories of everything and Hawkings wave function | 38 |
What local supersymmetry can do for quantum | 39 |
implications | 51 |
Chris Isham Department of Physics | 73 |
Warping spacetime | 74 |
Sixty years in a nutshell | 105 |
M theory and beyond | 453 |
String theory | 468 |
A brief description of string theory | 473 |
The story of M | 484 |
Gauged supergravity and holographic field theory | 494 |
De Sitter space | 537 |
De Sitter space in noncritical string theory | 570 |
Supergravity M theory and cosmology | 592 |
Spacetime singularities | 119 |
The quantum physics of chronology protection | 161 |
Energy dominance and the HawkingEllis vacuum | 177 |
On the instability of extra space dimensions | 185 |
Black holes | 203 |
Black holes in the real universe and their prospects | 217 |
Primordial black holes | 236 |
Black hole pair creation | 264 |
Black holes at accelerators | 278 |
Black holes and string theory | 291 |
Playing with black strings | 310 |
Twenty years of debate with Stephen | 330 |
Quantum gravity | 349 |
Zeta functions anomalies and stable branes | 373 |
Some reflections on the status of conventional quantum | 384 |
Quantum geometry and its ramifications | 409 |
Topology change in quantum gravity | 436 |
Quantum cosmology | 613 |
References | 620 |
Quantum cosmology | 621 |
Quantum cosmology and eternal inflation | 649 |
Probability in the deterministic theory known | 667 |
The interpretation of quantum cosmology and | 675 |
Peter DEath | 693 |
Cosmology | 723 |
3 | 731 |
41 | 753 |
The ekpyrotic universe and its cyclic extension | 781 |
Inflationary theory versus the ekpyroticcyclic scenario | 801 |
Brane new worlds | 839 |
Publications of Stephen Hawking | 860 |
| 873 | |
| 874 | |
Common terms and phrases
action approach Astrophys asymptotic background Big Bang black hole black string boundary Bousso brane calculation Cambridge causal set chronology protection classical collapse coordinate cosmic cosmological constant covariant curvature D-branes defined density described dimensional dimensions dynamical Einstein Ellis entropy equations Euclidean event horizon evolution example finite flat functional freedom fundamental galaxies gauge theory geodesic geometry Grav gravitational waves hole's infinite infinity inflation inflationary inhomogeneous initial instanton Lett mass Math metric models naked singularities Nucl observer orbit pair creation parameter particle PBHs Penrose perturbations photon Phys physics Planck potential predictions problem quantum cosmology quantum field theory quantum gravity quantum mechanics quantum theory radiation radius region relativistic relativity scalar field scale Schwarzschild semiclassical Sitter space solution spacelike spacetime spatial spin stars Stephen Hawking string theory structure supergravity supersymmetry surface symmetry tensor theorem timelike tion topology universe vacuum vector wave function wormhole zero