The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology: Celebrating Stephen Hawking's Contributions to Physics

Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 8/20/2009
EAN 9780521144087, ISBN10: 0521144086

Paperback, 906 pages, 24.4 x 17 x 4.6 cm
Language: English

Based on lectures given in honour of Stephen Hawking's sixtieth birthday, this book comprises contributions from some of the world's leading theoretical physicists. It begins with a section containing chapters by successful scientific popularisers, bringing to life both Hawking's work and other exciting developments in physics. The book then goes on to provide a critical evaluation of advanced subjects in modern cosmology and theoretical physics. Topics covered include the origin of the universe, warped spacetime, cosmological singularities, quantum gravity, black holes, string theory, quantum cosmology and inflation. As well as providing a fascinating overview of the wide variety of subject areas to which Stephen Hawking has contributed, this book represents an important assessment of prospects for the future of fundamental physics and cosmology.

Preface
List of contributors
1. Introduction
Part I. Popular Symposium
2. Our complex cosmos and its future Martin J. Rees
3. Theories of everything and Hawking's wave function of the Universe James B. Hartle
4. The problem of space-time singularities
implications for quantum gravity? Roger Penrose
5. Warping spacetime Kip Thorne
6. 60 years in a nutshell Stephen W. Hawking
Part II. Spacetime Singularities
7. Cosmological perturbations and singularities George F. R. Ellis
8. The quantum physics of chronology protection Matt Visser
9. Energy dominance and the Hawking–Ellis vacuum conservation theorem Brandon Carter
10. On the instability of extra space dimensions Roger Penrose
Part III. Black Holes
11. Black hole uniqueness and the inner horizon stability problem Werner Israel
12. Black holes in the real universe and their prospects as probes of relativistic gravity Martin J. Rees
13. Primordial black holes Bernard Carr
14. Black hole pair creation Simon F. Ross
15. Black holes as accelerators Steven Giddings
Part IV. Hawking Radiation
16. Black holes and string theory Malcolm Perry
17. M theory and black hole quantum mechanics Joe Polchinski
18. Playing with black strings Gary Horowitz
19. Twenty years of debate with Stephen Leonard Susskind
Part V. Quantum Gravity
20. Euclidean quantum gravity
the view from 2002 Gary Gibbons
21. Zeta functions, anomalies and stable branes Ian Moss
22. Some reflections on the status of conventional quantum theory when applied to quantum gravity Chris Isham
23. Quantum geometry and its ramifications Abhay Ashtekar
24. Topology change in quantum gravity Fay Dowker
Part VI. M Theory and Beyond
25. The past and future of string theory Edward Witten
26. String theory David Gross
27. A brief description of string theory Michael Green
28. The story of M Paul Townsend
29. Gauged supergravity and holographic field theory Nick Warner
30. 57 varieties in a NUTshell Chris Pope
Part VII. de Sitter Space
31. Adventures in de Sitter space Raphael Bousso
32. de Sitter space in non-critical string theory Andrew Strominger
33. Supergravity, M theory and cosmology Renata Kallosh
Part VIII. Quantum Cosmology
34. The state of the universe James B. Hartle
35. Quantum cosmology Don Page
36. Quantum cosmology and eternal inflation A. Vilenkin
37. Probability in the deterministic theory known as quantum mechanics Bryce de Witt
38. The interpretation of quantum cosmology and the problem of time J. Halliwell
39. What local supersymmetry can do for quantum cosmology Peter D'Eath
Part IX. Cosmology
40. Inflation and cosmological perturbations Alan Guth
41. The future of cosmology
observational and computational prospects Paul Shellard
42. The ekpyrotic universe and its cyclic extension Neil Turok
43. Inflationary theory versus the ekpyrotic/cyclic scenario Andrei Linde
44. Brane (new) worlds Pierre Binetruy
45. Publications of Stephen Hawking
Index.

'The collection of authors is uniformly impressive ... well-written and pedagogical ... this volume provides a rewarding experience for researchers interested in gravity, cosmology, and fundamental physics.' Sean M. Carroll, American Journal of Physics