P-branes, or what was before the Big Bang

[twofires]

In theoretical physics, branes or p-branes are spatially extended objects that appear in string theory and its relatives (M-theory and brane cosmology). The variable p refers to the spatial dimension of the brane. That is, a 0-brane is a zero-dimensional particle, a 1-brane is a string, a 2-brane is a "membrane", etc. Every p-brane sweeps out a (p+1)-dimensional world volume as it propagates through spacetime.

Originally string theory was a theory of 1-branes called strings. By the mid-1990s it became apparent that the theory could be extended to also include higher dimensional objects. Typically these objects are non-perturbative features of the theory (meaning they do not appear in perturbation theory) which is partially why early string theorists were unaware of them.

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With the development of M-theory, an extra dimension appeared and the fundamental string of string theory became a 2-dimensional membrane called an M2-brane (or supermembrane). Its magnetical dual is an M5-brane. The various branes of string theory are thought to be related to these higher dimensional M-branes wrapped on various cycles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brane

the short of it: our universe exists as the intersection of a couple branes wafting around like silk

[thunter34]

This is all kinda flying over my head at the moment.


I feel like a P-brane.

[Val]

Funny you started this topic!  I was watching this video that the BBC made about the String Theory which, I suppose, has something to do with the Branes!

http://video.google.fr/videoplay?docid=4183875433858020781&q=string+theory

Val
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[Miss Philicia]

huh?