PHYSICIST S. JAMES GATES TO DISCUSS SUPERSTRING THEORY

A lecture by a leading proponent of superstring theory promises to give non-scientists an accessible introduction to physicists' latest speculations about the nature of the universe. S. James Gates Jr., the John S. Toll Professor of Physics and Director of the Center for String and Particle Theory at the University of Maryland, College Park, and a former president of the National Society of Black Physicists, will give a talk titled "Why Einstein Would Love Spaghetti in Fundamental Physics" on Monday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m. in Park Science Center Room 243. The talk is sponsored by the Bryn Mawr Department of Physics, the Class of 1902 Lecture Fund and the Bryn Mawr chapter of the physics honor society Sigma Xi.

For years physicists have observed a conflict between their understanding of gravity and the principles of quantum mechanics. The lack of a complete theory of gravitation made it impossible to answer some questions, such as "How does the force of gravity act on objects a billion billion times smaller than the hydrogen atom?'' or "What was the universe like the very instant after the Big Bang?'' or "What is the complete physics of black holes?''  For such questions it is critical to know how the force of gravity can be consistent with the principles of quantum theory.  In such a realm, the effects of gravity and all the other forces must be very different from those seen in everyday experience.  Einstein suspected this, and it led him to the belief that there must exist a "unified field theory'' to describe our world.  He spent the last 30 years of his life unsuccessfully searching for this construction. 

A new framework called 'superstring theory' may represent the culmination of the quest begun by Einstein. Gates is a pioneer of superstring theory. His doctoral dissertation at MIT was the first ever at that institution on supersymmetry, a principle that may provide the first experimental evidence in support of superstring theory. He was the first recipient of the American Physical Society's Edward A. Bouchet Award, given annually to a distinguished minority physicist who has made significant contributions to physics research. He has been active in encouraging members of underrepresented minorities to study physics. Known for his skill in communicating cutting-edge ideas in theoretical physics to general audiences, Gates was featured prominently in the PBS Nova special "The Elegant Universe."

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