The Great Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Physics

By Tim Voigt

In physics there is a quest to find the mythical Grand Unified Theory.  It was begun by Einstein and it is a belief that there exists a singular ultimate theory of Nature and physics.  It has not been found.  Its search consumes today's physics.  It has seen radical ideas, novelties, research paths, experiments, and more to find it.  It consumes legions of physicists worldwide.  Here in this book, we will review discussion on this amazing mystery, epic treasure hunt, and search for ultimate understanding of Nature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tim Voigt
• Release date: Apr 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215969779

Book preview

To students of physics.

Epigraph page:

'There is in physics a great quest.  It is to find a theory of physics that will unify the forces, to explain the universe, and to understand Creation.  It has been called with names like the theory of everything, the final theory, and also the grand unified theory.  It would begin with Einstein and continue down to the present age.  It would be a passion for many to seek it and to solve it.  Its achievement would climax the greatest adventure science and physics will ever know.  It will complete Man's quest to finally understand the universe.  Many would seek it since Einstein consuming the finest minds of physics history for the last century.  But alas no one would solve it.  It represents something like the Holy Grail or a fabulous treasure of history.  Many would be consumed by the dream of finding it, but for now no one has succeeding in finishing this epic quest.'  -talk on physics

'Einstein would be the closest thing to a wise man that physics would ever know.  He appeared out of nowhere in 1905 shaking the science with his annus mirabilis.  He would go on to discover special relativity, talk about Brownian Motion, and to make epical discoveries culminating in the Nobel Prize.  He would get infatuated with God, believing He existed, He made it all, and that He had a grand master plan for It All.  He sought for the ultimate theory of physics, dying in 1955 not having found it.  But he would leave to physics the dream it existed and that it could be found.  In some sense its quest would be a union of religion with physics.  Both seek for the explanation of Creation and the meaning to the universe.  For now it is not known what it is, but the quest goes on to find it.  It consumes physicists with a religious fervor that finding this theory would become religion itself.'      -talk on physics

For some, physics has become its own religion.  It is a way to explore the universe, to find meaning, to know beauty, and to experience truth.  It is a timeless subject for the thinker who wants to understand the world and also to understand oneself.  -physics talk

Dedication:

Today's physics world is at a momentous state.  Right now, physics in the state of its gravest crisis and most challenging problem.  Physics has reduced Nature to being just four fundamental forces and two epic theories in general relativity and quantum mechanics.  It is the task of physics today to unify all this as the result of a single, ultimate, and grand unified theory.  This epic theory has only been postulated in science, but not proven to exist.  Thinkers since Einstein believed in this theory and worked to discover it, but no one has found it.  Its passion has consumed physicists ranging from astronomers to particle physicists to cosmologists.  It has resulted in a vast assortment of advanced physics 'research fads' like superstring theory, K theory, M theory, twistor theory, and more.  These 'theories' for now all try to discover the grand unified theory, but so far nothing has achieved success.  Each 'theory' is in reality a 'mass' of advanced and difficult concepts, tough mathematics, and epical and mind-boggling discussion.  Each 'theory' has its community of practitioners who attempt to 'break through' to the grand unified theory, but so far has not done anything.  For now, physics remains in its state of 'intelligent chaos' and this is where it will stay unless this epical 'grand theory' is finally discovered.

Overall this book is dedicated to all who pursue discovery and elucidation of the mythical achievement, the Grand Unified Theory.  There are sure to be mistakes and omissions, please forgive what is found.  Thank you for reading.

Timothy Voigt

Science writer

2022

'Both physics and religion share in a common cause.  Both seek an explanation for Creation.  In religion they think they have it.  In physics they search for it in theory.  Both want an end to this journey, where they will finally understand the universe, and know the Plan of God Himself.'  -talk in physics

'For all intents and purposes the universe is a great mystery.  Man has been slashing his way through the jungle of ignorance to get to the truth.  He has come far but he has not completed the journey.'              -talk on physics

Preface:  The Universe

There is a vast grand reality.  It is unique, vast, everything, all, and immense.  It is the universe.

It is called by names like:

-cosmos -Creation -the universe -everything -all -the allness -totality -reality -the physical universe -the 10,000 Things, Nature, and much more.

It is a vast reality of all things like:

-plants -animals -forces -matter -energy -spacetime -objects -theories -people -life -stars -planets -galaxies -moons -effects -laws -states of matter, etc.

Somehow it exploded into 'existence' caused by a force unknown.  Its grand beginning has been called anything like the Big Bang, the Great Ultimate, and the Moment of Creation.  Out of it would come all that exists, time would flow, energy would be born, and material objects got created.  Out of this would come the stars, planets, life, and Man, indeed all that is.  What caused it to happen is not known and even now science searches for the answer as to how it could.

The nighttime sky illustrates the immensity, mystique, and grandeur of the universe.  It is a great expanse of emptiness with stars, galaxies, black holes, and astronomical objects spreading out in a seeming infinity.  It is not known to have an edge, a wall, a surface, nor anything like this.  It is a vast expanse of space, time, mass and energy objects all immense, vast, and almost incomprehensible.  It is the subject of its own study in cosmology.

It would baffle all ages, tempting many to try to 'explain' it, absorbing it into religion.  It would grow through so many visions, worldviews, and other dramas.  It would be studied in all ages of history, with people asking questions, and also seeking answers, perhaps making them up.  It is still very mysterious with a lot of mystery, secrets, conumdrums, and more to keep ages questioning it again.

A worldview is a vision of how the world or universe works.  Virtually all ages seek and conceive one.  It will postulate dramas like a cause, God, the act of beginning, what its features are, what makes things exist, how reality flows, and also how reality ends.  It would result in many epic stories like Genesis, a cosmic egg, a primordial ocean Nun, epic myths of God or the gods, a world tree, and so much else.  A worldview can generate an elaborate mythos or body of teachings, being enshrined in religion, being taught for ages.  Its story defines a religion, an age, a people, and civilization.  Ages have long sought the true vision or true worldview, but for now his understanding suffices with mythology, science, religions, and what more is believed.

Ages would postulate an epic and supreme entity, God.  He created the universe, devising a plan, establishing his order, endowing all things, making everything. He created all things, life, worlds, places, and things.  He is the cause, the originator, the origin, and the reason.  He is the life force of all, shaping everything, dictating, commanding, being the force that made it all.  He resides in Heaven, omnipotent, lord of all, supreme above all.

Ages would postulate superbeings called the gods.  Somehow they were born from God, being divine, being made real by His will.  They would diversify into sexes, manifesting as entities taking domains of Creation as their own.  They would borrow from the power of God and take to crafting Creation on their own, by their own decree, making things through the Hand of God.  Here gods would assume positions and names taking domains like land, sky, underworld, sea, and more as their own.  They would cluster on a sacred mountain and make it their seat.  From there they dominate Creation being born of God, ruling in Creation in place of God.  Ages would believe in them with pantheons manifesting in faiths like ancient Egyptian religion, Aztec religion, Inca religion, Hinduism, and more.  They would prove among some of religion's greatest beliefs, being some kind of agent of Creation, somehow acting on it representing religion itself.

Religions would regard the universe as a sacred and mythical thing.  It is a reality so made where Man, God's highest creation can have his life.  In many myths, religion would maintain the universe was this.  The Earth is flat, the center of the universe, the home of Man.  Around it all else revolves, the Sun, the Moon, planets, and the like.  God would populate his universe with Man, his highest creation, but he would also consider other things like gods, spirits, mythological animals, Heaven, Hell, Satan, demons,  and the like endowed with their natures, being given some place to live and fluorish.  It is a reality that fluorishes, unfolds, exists, and just happens after all.

There is a belief that the universe is not all there is to everything.  It is known to have begun in the Big Bang, thus it appears to be a reality born of another, parent reality.  If that were not enough, there are controversies abounding that there may exist other universes like a parallel universe, alternate universe, astral plane, multiverse, and so much else.  It is not known if the universe has 'brothers'.  Its thought only one exists and there are no others.  However for now controversies continue and it is possible scientists will one day believe in other universes.

Various ages would maintain the universe must have a 'meaning' or some cause or reason to exist.  Various causes can be to make Man and give him a place to be, to give God something to do, to provide Him with a hobby to stay busy with for eternity, to make life, to make reality exist, to act out God's Plan and just happen, and more.  It would result in much speculation, religious teaching, questioning, and exploration searching for a meaning to it  all.  Einstein wanted to know God's master plan, His thoughts and not the details.  Einstein could not know God, but others would take up the quest to know God.  For now the universe keeps its mysteries, being its own Great Mystery, baffling all, confusing all ages of Man, often tricking many into believing they knew the 'reason' for it all.

World myths discuss epic stories called Creation myths.  They are childhood stories of how the universe supposedly began.  Stories would discuss themes like God making all, a cosmic egg cracking, gods suddenly appear and craft Creation, a divine pair breed, crafting Creation, and so much else.  The ancients did not know how the universe began and thus they resorted to mythologizing, pretending stories, and also enshrining such stories in religion as well.

Ancient Egypt would craft for itself an epic worldview of fantasy.  They would imagine there was a great cosmic ocean, the Nun.  Out of this would arise a hill and on it would appear the Creator God called Amun.  He would create lesser gods inferior to himself.  He would give them charge over aspects of Nature.  Amun would become the supreme god of Ancient Egypt.  He would journey from morning to night manifesting in forms appearing like the Sun.  He would descend into the underworld whereby night would be.  He would encounter a great snake killing it and then he would reappear with the morning, acting out another day.  Ancient Egyptians would worship many gods, erecting pyramids, making tombs, and crafting a whole civilization to mummifying the dead, worshiping the king as a god, and more.  Its worldview is studied in the science of Egyptology.

It is thought it began with the Big Bang.  It is a grand explosion of some kind, immense and total resulting in the creation of it all.  It would expand, accelerate, and cool down eventually making for the real world.  It would create galaxies, moons, stars, planets, and also places for life.  Out of it would come Man, his world, politics, and much more.  It was born and endures to this time as reality itself.

In the Big Bang, it is thought it would cool and leave behind an energy presence of itself.  Scientists would theorize that perhaps this energy presence akin to ash or embers of a fire may still exist.  It would touch off efforts to find it.  Two radio astronomers named Penzias and Wilson would discover it and win the Nobel Prize.  It would so stun physics that it was discovered at all.  It settled an age-old debate.  Its debate discussed whether it was born or that it always existed.  It would answer that the universe was born, but it did not solve the problem in how it was created.

Its thought the universe created four forces.  They would be electromagnetism, two nuclear forces and gravity.  It is thought at the beginning, they were all unified as one force, but somehow they broke apart.  Physics cannot explain how they broke apart, it only believes faithfully they were once all joined.  For now it is known the forces broke apart, now scattered into its constituent forces.  Somehow the forces make up for all things in Nature, emitting energy, causing the manifestation of matter, and much more.

The universe would be born and then somehow start obeying natural laws.  Suddenly it starts obeying the laws of motion, conservation laws, force laws, and so much else.  How it came to be that the universe does this no one knows.  Its thought at the beginning of time all forces were joined as one.  They broke apart ending their symmetries each acting a domain of Nature.  Theories like relativity and quantum mechanics are born, thus accounting for their phenomenas.  The universe goes on to be the epic reality it is discoverable to science, following physics, unfolding, and shaping reality ever after.

The universe would create an energy field.  Out of this energy would come mass, following the laws of physics.  Mass would go on to manifest as subatomic particles, chemical elements, planets, asteroids, life, chemicals, rocks, flesh, wood, plants, air, water, liquids, gases, galaxies, and anything else.  There would be born the star, the Sun and a planet, the Earth.  Here would emerge life, animals, and also Man.  Man would fancy himself God's greatest creation, his highest life, something somehow chosen by God.  Out of this would come Man diversifying, manifesting, becoming what he is in all the ways he is.

The universe would create all manner of object, force, effect, field, and thing like:

-star -gravity -electricity -magnetism -motion -atoms -nuclei -particles -light -heat -sound -nuclear forces -physical effect -radiations and energies

-matter -antimatter -space -time -past, present, and future -cosmic rays -galaxy -planet -comet -asteroid -moon -ring -black hole