Three-Body Problem: The real physics behind the Sophons’ multi-dimensions

When describing the sophons’ multi-dimensional capabilities in his Three-Body Problem books, Liu Cixin built fictional dimensions beyond those recognized by most quantum physicists. So, how many dimensions does our universe really have? There’s an article about that…

Article Summary:

Theoretical physics is a complex field that often involves advanced concepts that sound like philosophy or metaphysics. One such concept is the idea of extra dimensions. These dimensions are beyond the ones we are aware of and can help us understand how the Universe works. There are three dimensions that we experience daily, which are length, width, and depth. The fourth dimension is time, which is necessary to properly measure the position, velocity, and acceleration of objects. Scientists believe there may be even more dimensions to help unify the laws of the Universe.

There are two fields of study in physics that help explain the behavior of energy and matter: Quantum Mechanics (QM) and General Relativity (GR). QM describes the behavior of energy and matter at atomic and subatomic levels, while GR describes the behavior of matter, energy, and spacetime on larger scales in the presence of gravity. Scientists have been trying to figure out how these two fields fit together for nearly a century.

There are four fundamental forces in nature that govern all matter-energy interactions. These forces are electromagnetism, weak nuclear force, strong nuclear force, and gravitation. Electromagnetism is associated with electrons and deals with electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic radiation. The weak nuclear force deals with the radioactive decay of atoms and the strong nuclear force governs particles that are the size of protons and neutrons. Finally, there is gravitation which deals with interactions between massive objects but has no known subatomic particle.

Because of the difficulty in unifying QM and GR, scientists have been trying to come up with a theoretical framework for unifying gravity with the other forces. This has led to the exploration of extra dimensions. The hope is that by understanding the extra dimensions, we can finally have a Theory of Everything and know how the Universe fits together. In conclusion, while the idea of extra dimensions may sound like fiction, it is an important part of our understanding of the Universe.

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