European Salon de News, Discussion et Klatsch - 4 July | 92 comments (92 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: So (4.00 / 4)

But other than that, they're just confirming experimentally a 40-year-old phenomenologically motivated model which is computable. After they measure the quantum numbers of the Higgs here's no empirical or theoretical justification for research into extensions of the standard model (other than philosophical prejudice along the lines of "a theory with 18 empirical parameters is ugly"). The lack of evidence of supersymmetry kills string theory stone dead.

Of course, having found the Higgs at lowish energies in the LHC-accessible energy range means after they're done with the higgs they can run the LHC for a decade or so exploring higher energy ranges for evidence of new physics. There is no theoretical justification for expecting any new physics in that energy range. Then comes the Great Desert.

If you are not convinced, try it on someone who has not been entirely debauched by economics. — Piero Sraffa

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jul 4th, 2012 at 05:06:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (4.00 / 3)

Uh - dark matter? Dark energy? A GUT that actually makes sense and isn't (literally) cobbled together from bits of string?

The next step will probably be a space observatory looking at ultra-high energy cosmic rays. The luminosity won't be has high as the LHC's. But as I understand it the software at the LHC throws away a lot of data, and may be throwing out useful information too - because it 'doesn't fit.'

So looking at single interactions in detail might not be a bad thing.

Anyway, I still want an anti-gravity flying car before I die.

So there's always that.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Jul 4th, 2012 at 08:33:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

A GUT that actually makes sense and isn't (literally) cobbled together from bits of string?

Can you offer any experimental evidence or even a hint of Grand Unification, other than Einstein's philosophical prejudice?

The next step will probably be a space observatory looking at ultra-high energy cosmic rays.

Yes, that would be nice. And gravitational wave detectors.

If you are not convinced, try it on someone who has not been entirely debauched by economics. — Piero Sraffa

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jul 4th, 2012 at 10:13:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

Can you offer any experimental evidence or even a hint of Grand Unification, other than Einstein's philosophical prejudice?

The standard argument is to start at the Big Bang and assume no differentiation there.

That may or may not be true, and unification - which has mostly worked otherwise - may be our current epicycles.

But even so - the alternative is to admit that gravity is fundamentally different in some important way.

Either way you have some interesting new physics to think about.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Jul 4th, 2012 at 10:55:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

But even so - the alternative is to admit that gravity is fundamentally different in some important way.

I can think of several ways.

If you are not convinced, try it on someone who has not been entirely debauched by economics. — Piero Sraffa

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jul 4th, 2012 at 11:34:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

European Salon de News, Discussion et Klatsch - 4 July | 92 comments (92 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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