A naukri.com initiative
Physicsworld
1M
380
Image Credit: Physicsworld
A theoretical physicist’s bucket list, 10 years later: Jim Gates on the graviton, quantum information and the scientific climate in the US
- S. James Gates Jr shared his 'theorist's bucket list' of physics discoveries in 2014 and reveals his progress on them a decade later.
- He witnessed the discovery of the Higgs boson and the detection of gravitational waves, a prediction made by Albert Einstein.
- The detection of gravitational waves using LIGO was a significant achievement, marking a sharp confirmation of the theory of general relativity.
- The next challenge is to detect gravitons, which could allow humans to observe events back to the Big Bang, surpassing the limitations of light observation.
- Experimentally, advancements in detecting gravitons involve measuring polarization and adapting technologies like the Fabry-Pérot interferometers.
- Gates discusses the prospects of supersymmetry, seeing it as a concept likely existing in nature despite challenges in detection at the Large Hadron Collider.
- He also touches on the concept of superstring theory, suggesting its observational acceptance may come from a confluence of cosmological and astrophysical observations.
- Gates expresses his new interest in quantum mechanics and information, particularly the incorporation of error-correcting codes into physics laws, leading to potential breakthroughs.
- He emphasizes the critical role of diversity and access in driving innovation and expresses concerns about misinformation and fake news in the digital age.
- Gates highlights the importance of public faith in science, urging the scientific community to actively engage with the public to maintain trust and faith in scientific advancements.
Read Full Article
22 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app