Sample interview questions: Can you explain the basic principles of string theory?
Sample answer:
1. The Fundamental Principle:
String theory proposes that the fundamental building blocks of the universe are not point-like particles, as described by traditional quantum mechanics, but tiny, vibrating strings. These strings can be open or closed, and their different vibrational patterns give rise to the various fundamental particles and forces we observe, including electrons, quarks, photons, and gravity.
2. Extra Dimensions:
String theory exists in 10 dimensions of spacetime, compared to the four dimensions (three spatial and one temporal) we are familiar with. These extra dimensions are believed to be curled up or compactified at extremely tiny scales, making them inaccessible to our current experimental probes.
3. Supersymmetry:
Supersymmetry is a symmetry between bosons (force-carrying particles) and fermions (matter particles). In string theory, every boson has a corresponding fermion partner, and vice versa. This symmetry has important implications for the consistency and mathematical elegance of the theory, but it has not yet been experimentally verified.
4. Duality:
String theory exhibits a remarkable property known as duality. This means that different string theories, which initially appear to be distinct, are actually different de… Read full answer