Universe or Multiverse?
Cambridge University Press, 2/11/2010
EAN 9780521140690, ISBN10: 0521140692
Paperback, 536 pages, 24.4 x 17 x 3.1 cm
Language: English
Recent developments in cosmology and particle physics, such as the string landscape picture, have led to the remarkable realization that our universe - rather than being unique - could be just one of many universes. The multiverse proposal helps to explain the origin of the universe and some of its observational features. Since the physical constants can be different in other universes, the fine-tunings which appear necessary for the emergence of life may also be explained. Nevertheless, many physicists remain uncomfortable with the multiverse proposal, since it is highly speculative and perhaps untestable. In this volume, a number of active and eminent researchers in the field - mainly cosmologists and particle physicists but also some philosophers - address these issues and describe recent developments. The articles represent the full spectrum of views, providing for the first time an overview of the subject. They are written at different academic levels, engaging lay-readers and researchers alike.
Part I. Overviews
1. Introduction and overview Bernard Carr
2. Living in the multiverse Steven Weinberg
3. Enlightenment, knowledge, ignorance, temptation Frank Wilczek
Part II. Cosmology and Astrophysics
4. Cosmology and the multiverse Martin J. Rees
5. The anthropic principle revisited Bernard Carr
6. Cosmology from the top down Stephen Hawking
7. The multiverse hierarchy Max Tegmark
8. The inflationary universe Andrei Linde
9. A model of anthropic reasoning
the dark to ordinary matter ratio Frank Wilczek
10. Anthropic predictions
the case of the cosmological constant Alexander Vilenkin
11. The definition and classification of universes James D. Bjorken
12. M/string theory and anthropic reasoning Renata Kallosh
13. The anthropic principle, dark energy and the LHC Savas Dimopoulos and Scott Thomas
Part III. Particle Physics and Quantum Theory
14. Quarks, electrons and atoms in closely related universes Craig J. Hogan
15. The fine-tuning problems of particle physics and anthropic mechanisms John F. Donoghue
16. The anthropic landscape of string theory Leonard Susskind
17. Cosmology and the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics Viatcheslav Mukhanov
18. Anthropic reasoning and quantum cosmology James B. Hartle
19. Micro-anthropic principle for quantum theory Brandon Carter
Part IV. More General Philosophical Issues
20. Scientific alternatives to the anthropic principle Lee Smolin
21. Making predictions in a multiverse
conundrums, dangers, coincidences Anthony Aguirre
22. Multiverses
description, uniqueness and testing George Ellis
23. Predictions and tests of multiverse theories Don N. Page
24. Observation selection theory and cosmological fine-tuning Nick Bostrom
25. Are anthropic arguments, involving multiverses and beyond, legitimate? William R. Stoeger
26. The multiverse hypothesis
a theistic perspective Robin Collins
27. Living in a simulated universe John D. Barrow
28. Universes galore
where will it all end? Paul Davies
Index.
'... probably the most comprehensive tome on the subject around at the moment and, like the others, I imagine it will have a long shelf-life ... this well-constructed collection of writings is the best we can possibly hope for in the era of this new great debate.' Pedro Ferreira, Physics World