An Introduction to Black Holes, Information and the String Theory Revolution

An Introduction to Black Holes, Information and the String Theory Revolution
Author: Leonard Susskind
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 204
Release: 2005
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9789812561312

- A unique exposition of the foundations of the quantum theory of black holes including the impact of string theory, the idea of black hole complementarily and the holographic principle bull; Aims to educate the physicist or student of physics who is not an expert on string theory, on the revolution that has grown out of black hole physics and string theory

Three Lectures on Complexity and Black Holes

Three Lectures on Complexity and Black Holes
Author: Leonard Susskind
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 93
Release: 2020-05-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030451097

These three lectures cover a certain aspect of complexity and black holes, namely the relation to the second law of thermodynamics. The first lecture describes the meaning of quantum complexity, the analogy between entropy and complexity, and the second law of complexity. Lecture two reviews the connection between the second law of complexity and the interior of black holes. Prof. L. Susskind discusses how firewalls are related to periods of non-increasing complexity which typically only occur after an exponentially long time. The final lecture is about the thermodynamics of complexity, and “uncomplexity” as a resource for doing computational work. The author explains the remarkable power of “one clean qubit,” in both computational terms and in space-time terms. This book is intended for graduate students and researchers who want to take the first steps towards the mysteries of black holes and their complexity.

The Little Book of String Theory

The Little Book of String Theory
Author: Steven S. Gubser
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 183
Release: 2010-02-08
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1400834430

The essential beginner's guide to string theory The Little Book of String Theory offers a short, accessible, and entertaining introduction to one of the most talked-about areas of physics today. String theory has been called the "theory of everything." It seeks to describe all the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses gravity and quantum mechanics in one unifying theory. But it is unproven and fraught with controversy. After reading this book, you'll be able to draw your own conclusions about string theory. Steve Gubser begins by explaining Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, quantum mechanics, and black holes. He then gives readers a crash course in string theory and the core ideas behind it. In plain English and with a minimum of mathematics, Gubser covers strings, branes, string dualities, extra dimensions, curved spacetime, quantum fluctuations, symmetry, and supersymmetry. He describes efforts to link string theory to experimental physics and uses analogies that nonscientists can understand. How does Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu relate to quantum mechanics? What would it be like to fall into a black hole? Why is dancing a waltz similar to contemplating a string duality? Find out in the pages of this book. The Little Book of String Theory is the essential, most up-to-date beginner's guide to this elegant, multidimensional field of physics.

The Black Hole War

The Black Hole War
Author: Leonard Susskind
Publisher: Little, Brown
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2008-07-07
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0316032697

What happens when something is sucked into a black hole? Does it disappear? Three decades ago, a young physicist named Stephen Hawking claimed it did, and in doing so put at risk everything we know about physics and the fundamental laws of the universe. Most scientists didn't recognize the import of Hawking's claims, but Leonard Susskind and Gerard t'Hooft realized the threat, and responded with a counterattack that changed the course of physics. The Black Hole War is the thrilling story of their united effort to reconcile Hawking's revolutionary theories of black holes with their own sense of reality -- effort that would eventually result in Hawking admitting he was wrong, paying up, and Susskind and t'Hooft realizing that our world is a hologram projected from the outer boundaries of space. A brilliant book about modern physics, quantum mechanics, the fate of stars and the deep mysteries of black holes, Leonard Susskind's account of the Black Hole War is mind-bending and exhilarating reading.

The Theoretical Minimum

The Theoretical Minimum
Author: Leonard Susskind
Publisher: Basic Books
Total Pages: 165
Release: 2014-04-22
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0465038921

A master teacher presents the ultimate introduction to classical mechanics for people who are serious about learning physics "Beautifully clear explanations of famously 'difficult' things," -- Wall Street Journal If you ever regretted not taking physics in college -- or simply want to know how to think like a physicist -- this is the book for you. In this bestselling introduction to classical mechanics, physicist Leonard Susskind and hacker-scientist George Hrabovsky offer a first course in physics and associated math for the ardent amateur. Challenging, lucid, and concise, The Theoretical Minimum provides a tool kit for amateur scientists to learn physics at their own pace.

The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology

The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology
Author: G. W. Gibbons
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 924
Release: 2003-10-23
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9780521820813

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.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory

The Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory
Author: George Musser
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 372
Release: 2008-07-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1101029358

We’re living in the midst of a scientific revolution that’s captured the general public’s attention and imagination. The aim of this new revolution is to develop a “theory of everything”—a set of laws of physics that will explain all that can be explained, ranging from the tiniest subatomic particle to the universe as a whole. Here, readers will learn the ideas behind the theories, and their effects upon our world, our civilization, and ourselves. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® String Theory explains how this exciting idea holds up against competing theories. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Clear explanation of quantum mechanics, Einstein’s theories of relativity, and how string theory unites them. • A quick, easy-to-understand overview of competing theories and how they might be tested. • Fast facts about black holes, what’s inside them, how they’re made, and why they’re so paradoxical. • Simple, smart tips to help you visualize extra dimensions.

The Cosmic Landscape

The Cosmic Landscape
Author: Leonard Susskind
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Total Pages: 431
Release: 2008-12-14
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0316055581

In his first book ever, the father of string theory reinvents the world's concept of the known universe and man's unique place within it. Line drawings.

The Black Hole

The Black Hole
Author: Jorge Zanelli
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company Incorporated
Total Pages: 326
Release: 1998
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9789810233419

This volume contains a series of lectures presented at the Centro de Estudios Cientificos de Santiago to celebrate John Archibald Wheeler's invention of the term black hole in the early 1970s. The articles discuss current issues in black hole physics, ranging from epistemological considerations to recent developments connecting black hole thermodynamics and string theory.

String Theory in a Nutshell

String Theory in a Nutshell
Author: Elias Kiritsis
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 883
Release: 2019-04-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0691188963

The essential introduction to modern string theory—now fully expanded and revised String Theory in a Nutshell is the definitive introduction to modern string theory. Written by one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject, this concise and accessible book starts with basic definitions and guides readers from classic topics to the most exciting frontiers of research today. It covers perturbative string theory, the unity of string interactions, black holes and their microscopic entropy, the AdS/CFT correspondence and its applications, matrix model tools for string theory, and more. It also includes 600 exercises and serves as a self-contained guide to the literature. This fully updated edition features an entirely new chapter on flux compactifications in string theory, and the chapter on AdS/CFT has been substantially expanded by adding many applications to diverse topics. In addition, the discussion of conformal field theory has been extensively revised to make it more student-friendly. The essential one-volume reference for students and researchers in theoretical high-energy physics Now fully expanded and revised Provides expanded coverage of AdS/CFT and its applications, namely the holographic renormalization group, holographic theories for Yang-Mills and QCD, nonequilibrium thermal physics, finite density physics, and entanglement entropy Ideal for mathematicians and physicists specializing in theoretical cosmology, QCD, and novel approaches to condensed matter systems An online illustration package is available to professors