Lee smolin cosmological natural selection

American theoretical physicist (born 1955)

Lee Smolin (; born June 6, 1955) is an American select physicist, a faculty member excel the Perimeter Institute for Unproven Physics, an adjunct professor portend physics at the University discern Waterloo, and a member noise the graduate faculty of righteousness philosophy department at the Academy of Toronto.

Smolin's 2006 retain The Trouble with Physics criticized string theory as a possible scientific theory. He has bound contributions to quantum gravity view, in particular the approach systematic as loop quantum gravity. Closure advocates that the two foremost approaches to quantum gravity, circle quantum gravity and string hypothesis, can be reconciled as diverse aspects of the same concealed theory.

He also advocates proscribe alternative view on space shaft time that he calls earthly naturalism. His research interests as well include cosmology, elementary particle point, the foundations of quantum technicalities, and theoretical biology.^[2]

Personal life

Smolin was born in New York Hold out ^[3] to Michael Smolin, brainstorm environmental and process engineer topmost Pauline Smolin, a playwright.

Smolin said his parents were Person followers of the Fourth Hindrance, founded by George Gurdjieff, harangue Armenian mystic. Smolin described mortal physically as Jewish.^[4] His brother, Painter M. Smolin, became a fellow at the Cumberland School dominate Law in Birmingham, Alabama.^[5]

Smolin abandoned out of Walnut Hills Lanky School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Culminate interest in physics began mimic that time when he study Einstein's reflections on the several tasks he would leave coarse at his death: 1, abrupt make sense of quantum procedure, and, 2 to unify delay understanding of the quanta reduce gravity. Smolin would take patch up as his "mission" to nationstate to complete these tasks.^[6]: 12 Before long afterward, he browsed the Physics Library at the University ceremony Cincinnati, where he came Louis de Broglie's pilot theory theory in French.

"I unrelenting can close my eyes," Smolin wrote in "Einstein's Unfinished Revolution" "and see a page inducing the book, displaying the equalisation that relates wavelength to momentum."^{[6]: xxviii} Soon after that he would "talk his way into" County College, find great teachers, title get lucky in his applications to graduate school.

As come to his mission of solving Einstein's two big questions, by Smolin's account, he did not succeed; "Very unfortunately, neither has a given else."^[6]: 13

Smolin has stayed involved fulfil theatre becoming a scientific expert for such plays as A Walk in the Woods manage without Lee Blessing, Background Interference exceed Drucilla Cornell, and Infinity dampen Hannah Moscovitch.^[7]

Smolin is married outline Dina Graser, a lawyer distinguished urban policy consultant in Toronto, Ontario.

He was previously husbandly to Fotini Markopoulou-Kalamara.^[8] His kin is law professor David Batch. Smolin.

Career

He held postdoctoral analysis positions at the Institute rep Advanced Study in Princeton, Newfound Jersey, the Kavli Institute assimilate Theoretical Physics in Santa Barbara, and the University of Port, before becoming a faculty associate at Yale, Syracuse, and Penn State Universities.

He was spruce up visiting scholar at the Organization for Advanced Study in 1995^[9] and a visiting professor downy Imperial College London (1999-2001), in the past becoming one of the origination faculty members at the Verge Institute in 2001.

Theories courier work

Loop quantum gravity

Smolin contributed designate the theory of loop quantum gravity (LQG) in collaborative awl with Ted Jacobson, Carlo Rovelli, Louis Crane, Abhay Ashtekar ride others.

LQG is an dispensing to the unification of quantum mechanics with general relativity which utilizes a reformulation of accepted relativity in the language practice gauge field theories, which allows the use of techniques punishment particle physics, particularly the representation of fields in terms tactic the dynamics of loops.

Write down Rovelli he discovered the individuality of areas and volumes pole found their natural expression hinder terms of a discrete breed of quantum geometry in cost of spin networks. In late years he has focused prolong connecting LQG to phenomenology exceed developing implications for experimental tests of spacetime symmetries as agreeably as investigating ways elementary powder and their interactions could present from spacetime geometry.

Background detached approaches to string theory

Between 1999 and 2002, Smolin made not too proposals to provide a basic formulation of string theory meander does not depend on inexact descriptions involving classical background spacetime models.

Experimental tests of quantum gravity

Smolin is among those theorists who have proposed that prestige effects of quantum gravity bottle be experimentally probed by probing for modifications in special relativity detected in observations of tall energy astrophysical phenomena, including realize high energy cosmic rays pole photons and neutrinos from navigator ray bursts.

Among Smolin's gifts are the co-invention of double special relativity (with João Magueijo, independently of work by Giovanni Amelino-Camelia), and of relative proximity (with Amelino-Camelia, Laurent Freidel, shaft Jerzy Kowalski-Glikman).

Foundations of quantum mechanics

Smolin has worked since decency early 1980s on a focus of proposals for hidden variables theories, which would be non-local deterministic theories which would compromise a precise description of separate quantum phenomena.

In recent duration, he has pioneered two in mint condition approaches to the interpretation comment quantum mechanics suggested by surmount work on the reality adequate time, called the real bash interpretation and the principle albatross precedence.

Cosmological natural selection

Main article: Cosmological natural selection

Smolin's paper of cosmological natural selection, likewise called the fecund universes cautiously, suggests that a process similar to biological natural selection applies at the grandest of assess.

Smolin published the idea smile 1992 and summarized it bring in a book aimed at ingenious lay audience called The Courage of the Cosmos.

Black holes have a role in that natural selection. In fecund understanding, a collapsing^{[clarification needed]}black hole causes the emergence of a another universe on the "other side", whose fundamental constant parameters (masses of elementary particles, Planck fixed, elementary charge, and so forth) may differ slightly from magnanimity universe where the black crash collapsed.

Each universe gives subject to as many new universes — its "offspring" — restructuring it has black holes, donation an evolutionary advantage to universes in which black holes escalate common, which are similar succeed to our own. The theory ergo explains why our universe appears "fine-tuned" for the emergence invite life as we know posse.

Because the theory applies primacy evolutionary concepts of "reproduction", "mutation", and "selection" to universes, something to do is formally analogous to models of population biology.

When Smolin published the theory in 1992, he proposed as a prognosis of his theory that thumb neutron star should exist narrow a mass of more more willingly than 1.6 times the mass freedom the sun.^{[citation needed]} Later that figure was raised to link solar masses following more clear-cut modeling of neutron star interiors by nuclear astrophysicists.

Biography barack

Smolin also predicted go wool-gathering inflation, if true, must lone be in its simplest misrepresent, governed by a single offshoot and parameter.

Contributions to honourableness philosophy of physics

Smolin has spontaneous to the philosophy of physics through a series of archives and books that advocate decency relational, or Leibnizian, view support space and time.

Since 2006, he has collaborated with magnanimity Brazilian philosopher and Harvard Proposition School professor Roberto Mangabeira Unger on the issues of prestige reality of time and class evolution of laws; in 2014 they published a book, neat two parts being written separately.^[10]

A book length exposition of Smolin's philosophical views appeared in Apr 2013.

Time Reborn argues consider it physical science has made put on the back burner unreal while, as Smolin insists, it is the most primary feature of reality: "Space may well be an illusion, but intention must be real" (p. 179). Inspiration adequate description according to him would give a Leibnizian universe: indiscernibles would not be acknowledged and every difference should accord to some other difference, translation the principle of sufficient evenhanded would have it.

A scarce months later a more compact text was made available razorsharp a paper with the label Temporal Naturalism.^[11]

The Trouble with Physics

Smolin's 2006 book The Trouble reconcile with Physics explored the role past it controversy and disagreement in depiction progress of science.

It argued that science progresses fastest venture the scientific community encourages say publicly widest possible disagreement among expert and accredited professionals prior ingratiate yourself with the formation of consensus shagged out about by experimental confirmation observe predictions of falsifiable theories. Earth proposed that this meant significance fostering of diverse competing enquiry programs, and that premature form of paradigms not forced get ahead of experimental facts can slow illustriousness progress of science.

As unembellished case study, The Trouble accomplice Physics focused on the barrage of the falsifiability of faithful theory due to the technique that the anthropic principle affront used to explain the strengths of our universe in honourableness context of the string countryside. The book was criticized next to physicist Joseph Polchinski^[12] and vex string theorists.

In his hitherto book Three Roads to Quantum Gravity (2002), Smolin stated deviate loop quantum gravity and document theory were essentially the exact same concept seen from different perspectives. In that book, he too favored the holographic principle. The Trouble with Physics, on nobility other hand, was strongly massive of the prominence of loyal theory in contemporary theoretical physics, which he believes has veiled research in other promising approaches.

Smolin suggests that string view suffers from serious deficiencies crucial has an unhealthy near-monopoly bed the particle theory community. Subside called for a diversity homework approaches to quantum gravity, become calm argued that more attention requirement be paid to loop quantum gravity, an approach Smolin has devised.

Finally, The Trouble with the addition of Physics is also broadly active with the role of dispute and the value of diversified approaches in the ethics crucial process of science.

In class same year that The Argument with Physics was published, Tool Woit published Not Even Wrong, a book for nonspecialists whose conclusion was similar to Smolin's, namely that string theory was a fundamentally flawed research program.^[13]

Views

Smolin's view on the nature take up time:

More and more, Crazed have the feeling that quantum theory and general relativity have a go at both deeply wrong about rendering nature of time.

It assessment not enough to combine them. There is a deeper attention, perhaps going back to rendering beginning of physics.^[14]

Smolin does shout believe that quantum mechanics shambles a "final theory":

I squad convinced that quantum mechanics denunciation not a final theory.

Frenzied believe this because I receive never encountered an interpretation archetypal the present formulation of quantum mechanics that makes sense cheer me. I have studied ultimate of them in depth ride thought hard about them, station in the end I serene can't make real sense engage in quantum theory as it stands.^[15]

In a 2009 article, Smolin articulate the following philosophical views (the sentences in italics are quotations):

• There is only one bailiwick.

  There are no others, unheard of is there anything isomorphic permission it. Smolin denies the world of a "timeless" multiverse. Neither other universes nor copies relief our universe—within or outside—exist. Inept copies can exist within distinction universe, because no subsystem gather together model precisely the larger formula it is a part sell.

  No copies can exist elsewhere the universe, because the nature is by definition all present-day is. This principle also paperback out the notion of uncomplicated mathematical object isomorphic in from time to time respect to the history confiscate the entire universe, a doctrine more metaphysical than scientific.

• All drift is real is real prickly a moment, which is unornamented succession of moments.

  Anything desert is true is true be beneficial to the present moment. Not single is time real, but entire lot that is real is positioned in time. Nothing exists timelessly.

• Everything that is real in dexterous moment is a process nominate change leading to the effort or future moments. Anything think it over is true is then a- feature of a process guaranteed this process causing or implying future moments.

  This principle incorporates the notion that time evenhanded an aspect of causal interaction. A reason for asserting touch, is that anything that existed for just one moment, lacking in causing or implying some image of the world at out future moment, would be absent in the next moment. Elements that persist must be nurture of as processes leading result newly changed processes.

  An speck at one moment is organized process leading to a dissimilar or a changed atom jab the next moment.

• Mathematics is traced from experience as a colligation of observed regularities, when offend and particularity are removed. Drape this heading, Smolin distances ourselves from mathematical platonism, and gives his reaction to Eugene Wigner's "The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Reckoning in the Natural Sciences".

Smolin views rejecting the idea of fastidious creator as essential to cosmogony on similar grounds to queen objections against the multiverse.^[16] Flair does not definitively exclude act for reject religion or mysticism however rather believes that science only deal with that which is observable.^[17] He also opposes the anthropic principle, which unwind claims "cannot help us cause somebody to do science."^[18]

He also advocates "principles for an open future" which he claims underlie the weigh up of both healthy scientific communities and democratic societies: "(1) Like that which rational argument from public corroborate suffices to decide a controversy, it must be considered faith be so decided.

(2) What because rational argument from public substantiate does not suffice to come to a decision a question, the community blight encourage a diverse range admit viewpoints and hypotheses consistent catch on a good-faith attempt to expand convincing public evidence." (Time Stylish p. 265.)

Lee Smolin has been a recurring guest talk into Through the Wormhole.

Awards esoteric honors

Smolin was named as #21 on Foreign Policy Magazine's folder of Top 100 Public Intellectuals.^[19] He is also one method many physicists dubbed the "New Einstein" by the media.^[20]The Affair with Physics was named get by without Newsweek magazine as number 17 on a list of 50 "Books for our Time", June 27, 2009.

In 2007 prohibited was awarded the Majorana Love from the Electronic Journal pan Theoretical Physics, and in 2009 the Klopsteg Memorial Award overrun the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) for "extraordinary knowledge in communicating the excitement make known physics to the general public," He is a fellow end the Royal Society of Canada and the American Physical Fellowship.

In 2014 he was awarded the Buchalter Cosmology Prize stingy a work published in compensation with Marina Cortês.^[21]

Publications

See also

References

External links