Do other dimensions exist? And if so, what would life in them look like? This article will tackle these questions. What is the multiverse theory and how did it come about? How do quantum mechanics play a role in this theory? What does the idea of dark matter have to do with it all?
THE MULTIVERSE THEORY
A multiverse is a hypothetical group of multiple universes, including the universe in which we live. Although there is no observational evidence to suggest that the universe is actually composed of multiple universes, the possibility remains intriguing to many scientists and science fiction writers. The theory of multiple universes was originally introduced when Albert Einstein and Max Born first proposed the idea of quantum mechanics. According to their hypothesis, reality does not occur at a singular point in space and time; rather, it occurs across a range of possible states. The theory acknowledges that particles do not have fixed properties, as once thought. Rather, they exist as waves until they are measured or observed in some way.
The multiverse theory maintains that our universe is not the only one in existence. In fact, many universes could exist at once. How could we know for sure? Well, there are different explanations for how to prove that our universe is not the only one in existence. One possibility is observing other universes. If another universe were found to have a similar set of events and variables, but they were occurring at a different time than ours, this would indicate that we were looking at our past and not the future as originally thought. Another way to determine if other universes exist is through the process of elimination. If every possible universe that could exist does not exist, then only one universe remains our own.
QUANTUM MECHANICS
The existence of other universes can be proven with quantum mechanics. Many people are familiar with the classical physics thought experiment, Schroedinger's Cat, which demonstrates how a single event can have multiple outcomes. However, there are other thought experiments that show how quantum mechanics can allow multiple outcomes from a single event. The double-slit experiment is an example of this. In this experiment, a single particle is fired at a single slit. This article may or may not pass through the slit, depending on the measurement that was made. The most popular suggestion as to how to prove other universes exist is by observing different quantum states of objects within these universes. If there are other universes, then we should observe objects in our universe that have non-classical properties or properties that exceed the rules of classical physics.
DARK MATTER
The idea of dark matter and dark energy has been hiding in the shadows for quite some time now. Despite being a major fixture of science fiction, we still don't know what dark matter is made of. There are many possible candidates to explain dark matter, ranging from protons and neutrons to black holes. According to the standard model of particle physics, there are three types of matter: baryonic matter, leptons, and gauge fields. The baryons are protons and neutrons that exist throughout our universe. Leptons are fermions—particles that appear in nature as electrons or quarks—that interact with each other through the exchange of quarks and gluons. Gauge fields form the strongest unified field theory, acting as a kind of glue that binds larger objects together.
There are many theories regarding the dark matter. One of the most popular ideas is that dark matter is made of axions. While most scientists do not believe that axions exist in our universe, these particles could be the answer to what makes up dark matter. The quantum field theory gives predictions for how many axions would be present in our universe, but no such objects have ever been found.
Quarks and leptons are also popular candidates for what makes up dark matter. Some scientists have suggested that quarks and leptons are the building blocks of dark matter, while others believe that they are simply byproducts of other particles making up dark matter.
Towards the end of the universe, when light particles stop interacting with electrons and other particles, the pressure exerted by dark matter could keep these particles together in a cluster. This would explain why dark matter is not evenly spread throughout space but instead is clumped together.
What does dark matter look like? Most of us think that it is fundamentally invisible, but we can't be certain about the answer. What we do know is that dark matter can be discovered by one of its gravitational influences on other objects. Dark energy, on the other hand, has been directly observed as gravitational waves from collisions in our universe. Finding evidence for both would give us even more proof that there are additional universes out there beyond our own.
As we continue to explore the mysteries of physics, we may stumble across something truly amazing that can change our understanding of our own universe. Whether a dark matter is made out of protons or neutrons, or dark energy is simply a byproduct of black holes, there is no doubt that there are multiple universes in existence. If other universes are found to exist, then this means that human beings are not alone in the universe. Could we one day meet alien beings from another universe? It's a scary thought, but one worth thinking about while you're waiting for your bus!
IMAGE REFERENCE:
https://newatlas.com/physics/dark-matter-candidate-particle-already-found/
