PMU199Y

Essay 4

This essay is worth 5% of your final grade and is due in two weeks, i.e. by 2:10PM on Wednesday January 28th. Please write about 4-4.5 pages (single-spaced) counting references.

QUESTION: What is superstring duality? What is M Theory, and why would anyone care?

INSTRUCTIONS:-

First off, make sure you studied the lecture material and the readings from Greene for Weeks 12 and 13. If you missed either class, take the initiative and catch up on any missed material from fellow students who actually showed up and participated in class discussions. I explained a number of things not in the online lecture notes.
Second, watch the remaining bulk of Episode 2 and all of Episode 3 of the NOVA Elegant Universe videos. Take detailed notes for yourself on what you learn (with time codes) as you watch these 2nd and 3rd NOVA videos.
In your essay, discuss the things that the documentary explained particularly well, and the things that helped your physics understanding the most. Feel free to also critique a few things that you didn't find especially helpful, but don't make criticism your focus (this is a Physics course, not an English course!). Keep it positive.
When you're writing about the NOVA material, remember that you need to weave it together with the material you learned in class and in the readings, all the while ensuring that you directly answer the above two-part Question fully.

RESOURCES

For references, please use only (1) NOVA videos, (2) Greene textbook (Chapter 12 especially), (3) my lecture notes. If you find another reference you want to use, please check it with me first before using it. This rule exists for your protection because very few good online sources exist for this advanced material.
Please remember to correctly reference your sources, just like in previous essays. In particular, I want to see time codes for movie references - e.g. NOVA video 2 (15:18) would mean 15min 18sec from the beginning of the 2nd video. For the textbook please quote the page number instead, and for lecture notes quote the page number and the date of the class.
Don't forget that I'm able to answer any physics questions about string duality or M theory in person, either during office hours or during a private appointment pre-booked by email (in-person or on Skype).