Description
The lecture series by Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose took place in 1994 at the University of Cambridge. The debate between the two physicists touched on the most complex problems of contemporary physics, discussing the initial conditions of the universe, the absorption of information by black holes, and the direction of the flow of time. The overarching problem was whether it is possible to connect Einstein's general theory of relativity with quantum field theory. This synthesis, if possible, could lead to the emergence of a quantum theory of gravity, which would complement and complete the existing physics describing fundamental interactions in nature. The level of debate was understandably more challenging than what audiences of popular lectures are used to; but even a layperson can "glimpse at least a hint of the depth of the discussed ideas and the difficulty of attempting to create a consistent picture encompassing both gravity and quantum theory," as noted in the preface by another outstanding mathematician, Michael Atiyah.
Information
Author: Hawking Stephen William, Penrose Roger
Publication date: February 19, 2019
Manufacturer: Dokořán s. r. o.
Genres: Natural sciences, Non-fiction literature, Technique, Books, Specialized and technical literature
Pages: 184
ISBN/EAN: 9788025725818