Evidence that Maldacena’s hologram conjecture is true

In summary, the paper by Hyakutake and his collaborators calculates the internal energy of a cosmos with no gravity, and they find that the calculations match. This is an important idea in string theory, and it is shown not to be mathematically inconsistent in one particular way.
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Simulations back up theory that Universe is a hologram
http://www.nature.com/news/simulations-back-up-theory-that-universe-is-a-hologram-1.14328

In one paper2, Hyakutake computes the internal energy of a black hole, the position of its event horizon (the boundary between the black hole and the rest of the Universe), its entropy and other properties based on the predictions of string theory as well as the effects of so-called virtual particles that continuously pop into and out of existence. In the other3, he and his collaborators calculate the internal energy of the corresponding lower-dimensional cosmos with no gravity. The two computer calculations match.

“It seems to be a correct computation,” says Maldacena, who is now at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey and who did not contribute to the team's work.
 
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What's with the sensationalist title? All they've done, if all of this is correct, is demonstrate that duality works. That's not really new.
 
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Well,we shouldn't be very excited I guess.You can derive Maxwell's equations and Einstein field equations from Kaluza–Klein theory.Thermodynamics+Equivalence principle(which becomes entropic gravity)can give you Einstein field equations.String theory is able to give you the standard model.And many other examples...
People may tell such things can't be coincidences,but we know that our universe is strange enough for such coincidences to be possible!
 
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How big is Hyakutake's paper? I get the feeling after reading the Nature article that this is the biggest thing since Einstein published his theory of General Relativity? It seems that they have been trying to unify gravity with the strong, weak and EM force since about 1970 and now they have consistent calculations. I'm kind of shocked that PF is not talking about this more. I thought everyone would be really excited about this but that doesn't seem to be the case.
 
  • #5
robertjford80 said:
How big is Hyakutake's paper? I get the feeling after reading the Nature article that this is the biggest thing since Einstein published his theory of General Relativity? It seems that they have been trying to unify gravity with the strong, weak and EM force since about 1970 and now they have consistent calculations. I'm kind of shocked that PF is not talking about this more. I thought everyone would be really excited about this but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Maldacena's 1998 AdS/CFT or gauge/gravity conjecture is indeed a big deal. It is a non-perturbative proposal for quantum gravity and unification for some universe - probably not ours. It is hoped that studying it will help us generalize appropriately. There are thousands of papers on the conjecture. Many calculations have shown that it is likely correct, although not proven. Hyakutake's paper is another calculation that supports the conjecture.
 
  • #6
a more plausible title, of the nature title
“Important idea of string theory shown not to be mathematically inconsistent in one particular way"
Ethan Siegel.
 

FAQ: Evidence that Maldacena’s hologram conjecture is true

What is Maldacena's hologram conjecture?

Maldacena's hologram conjecture, also known as the AdS/CFT correspondence, is a theoretical framework proposed by physicist Juan Maldacena in 1997. It suggests that a quantum field theory in a certain space can be mathematically equivalent to a gravitational theory in one fewer dimensions. This has profound implications for our understanding of the fundamental nature of space and time.

What evidence supports Maldacena's hologram conjecture?

There is a considerable amount of evidence that supports Maldacena's hologram conjecture. This includes the successful application of the conjecture to various physical systems, such as black holes, the strong nuclear force, and condensed matter systems. Additionally, experiments at the Large Hadron Collider have provided evidence for the existence of extra dimensions, which is a key component of the conjecture.

How has Maldacena's hologram conjecture impacted the field of physics?

Maldacena's hologram conjecture has had a significant impact on the field of physics. It has opened up new avenues for research and has led to a deeper understanding of the connections between different areas of physics, such as quantum mechanics and general relativity. It has also inspired new theoretical frameworks and has the potential to lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of the universe.

Are there any challenges to Maldacena's hologram conjecture?

While there is strong evidence supporting Maldacena's hologram conjecture, there are also some challenges and open questions. For example, the exact mechanism for how the holographic principle works is still not fully understood. Additionally, there are ongoing debates about the implications of the conjecture for the nature of space and time. Further research and experimentation are needed to address these challenges.

What are the potential practical applications of Maldacena's hologram conjecture?

At this point, there are no direct practical applications of Maldacena's hologram conjecture. However, as our understanding of the conjecture and its implications deepens, it may lead to technological advancements in areas such as quantum computing and space travel. It also has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe and could ultimately lead to new technologies and discoveries.

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