Extra Dimensions

Instructor:  John Terning, Department of Physics, College of Letters & Science

Description:This course will examine traditional and current thoughts about extra dimensions and how to test for their existence. Popular discussions of extra spatial dimensions date back over 100 years, but have recently attracted renewed attention. What we mean by an extra dimension will be examined; as well as why we regard time as the fourth dimension. Ideas about how extra dimensions of space (the fifth and higher dimensions) can be hidden from our view will be covered, including the latest suggestions inspired by string theory. The role of experiment in probing extra dimensions will also be surveyed. No mathematics will be used. High school physics will be helpful, but not required. Students will understand basics of space-time symmetries, quantum mechanics and special relativity. Students will be able to imagine abstract spaces. Students will understand basic ideas behind string theory.  Students will learn to approach new scientific theories without being intimidated and with a healthy skepticism.

Format: In addition to the two weekly meetings (one hour each), students will be expected to do weekly reading, mostly from the book "Warped Passages" by Prof. Lisa Randall.  Grading: Students will be graded on the quality of their participation in class discussion (20%), in-class writing assignments (10%), a 400-500 word summary of a chapter (5%) a short midterm paper, approx. 750-1000 words (15%), the draft of a final paper, 750 words minimum (10%), and on a final paper, 1200-1500 words (40%).

About the Instructor: Professor Terning is a particle physicist who specializes in extra dimensions, supersymmetry, and the origin of mass. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Toronto and has done research at Yale, Boston University, UC Berkeley, Harvard, and Los Alamos National Lab before coming to UC Davis in 2005.