Ow. My Brain Hurts.
Science writer Rob Bryerson has put together this excellent Flash animation to promote his new book Imaging TheTenth Dimension. So far so ho-hum, with all the flatlander stuff, until you start getting past dimension 5 when it all starts getting a little weird.
Oh, and while we’re on the subject of multidimensional physics, I also found this lovely animation ( see still photo below) of the modelling of quark interaction, done on a new Cray supercomputer.
Ooh, shiny.
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Lattice QCD is the subfield of particle theory which attempts to solve QCD problems by approximating spacetime with a discrete grid. Once they are put on a grid, these problems can be attacked by a variety of means, most often involving numerical methods on (super-)computers. The approach was invented by OSU’s own Ken Wilson in 1974, and has since evolved in to major discipline within particle physics. The OSU group is currently involved with several large-scale numerical simulations aimed at understanding strong and weak interaction properties of heavy and light quarks. Among these is the collaboration which has recently (Feb 1997) been named one of the Department of Energy Grand Challenges.
The animation can be seen here or here.
Do I understand it? No, not completely, if ever. But I’m giving it a bloody good try, and besides, the pictures are very pretty.
I urge you to do the same. Free your mind and your ass will follow, as a very wise man once said…
Read more: Computer Modelling, Particle Physics, Multiimensional geometry, Oooh Shiny.
