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Published online 19 July 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.699

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String theory hints at explanation for superconductivity

Baroque field gets fresh lease of life in condensed-matter physics.

Until recently, string theory — long heralded as a 'theory of everything' — hadn't been particularly good at explaining anything.

But at a workshop.

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  • Hello, Back in 1997, when I was working at Harvard University, I briefly chatted with a physics professor there named Cumrun Vafa about the possibility of using ideas from string theory physics to try to explain the enigma of HTc superconductivity. I thought of doing this because various preprints 'allege' a possible "non-trivial" relation between HTc superconductivity and gravity: http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Modanese_G/0/1/0/all/0/1 http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0010399 -------------------------------------------

    • 20 Jul, 2009
    • Posted by: Charlie Stromeyer
  • It is interesting that the same string-theory concepts used to describe black holes can help explain the behavior of electrons in a superconductor or metal. It has been used for explaining the strong nuclear forces involved in a quark–gluon plasma, and has become a competitor for the more favored QCD theories. The fact is that space is multi-dimensioned ,with the extra dimensions being coiled in the ordinary three dimensioned case. Under high energy conditions these express themselves. Holographic principle applies in the reverse situation of extension to cooler or less energy intense situations :information contained in a higher dimension can be embedded in lower dimension . There is a possibility that certain material configurations and compositions under particular conditions can cause holographic effects as above, so that a higher dimensioned phenomenon is morphed onto a lower dimensioned domain. The electron pairing, despite relatively high phonon noise disturbances,in high temperature superconductivity could be explained as possibly due to this. By the by, there are possibilities for higher dimension experience by particles/signals in ultra-high energy domains in space such that particle/information transport to distant regions become instantly possible, apparently violating relativistic dictums on impossibility of instantaneous action at distance,or information exchange. SURESH KUMAR.S,SCIENTIST AND ADVISER,NIIST,TRIVANDRUM[CSIR],INDIA

    • 22 Jul, 2009
    • Posted by: suresh kumar
  • Hi, everyone. You might be interested in C.P. Herzog's "Lectures on Holography in Superfluidity and Superconductivity" which is preprint http://arxiv.org/abs/0904.1975

    • 23 Jul, 2009
    • Posted by: Charlie Stromeyer