The absence of experimental evidence is at the core of this controversial situation which means that it is impossible to prove superstring theory is either right or wrong. To date, only the arguments of the theory's advocates have received much publicity. NOT EVEN WRONG provides readers with another side of the story.

NOT EVEN WRONG is a fascinating exploration of our attempts to come to grips with perhaps the most intellectually demanding puzzle of all: how does the universe work at its most fundamental level?

The story begins with an historical survey of the experimental and theoretical developments that led to the creation of the phenomenally successful 'Standard Model' of particle physics around 1975. Despite its successes, the Standard Model did not answer all the key questions and physicists' continuing search for answers led to the development of superstring theory. However, after twenty years, superstring theory has still failed to advance beyond the Standard Model.

Acknowledgements

Introduction

About this book

 1. Particle Physics at the Turn of the Millennium

 2. The Instruments of Production

Basic principles

Experimental particle physics, a quick history

Current accelerators

Accelerators: future prospects

Further reading

 3. Quantum Theory

Quantum theory and its history

Further reading

 4. Quantum Field Theory

Further reading

 5. Gauge Symmetry and Gauge Theories

Further reading

 6. The Standard Model

The standard model: electro-weak interactions

The standard model: strong interactions

Further reading

 7. Triumph of the Standard Model

Further reading

 8. Problems of the Standard Model

 9. Beyond the Standard Model

Grand unified theories

Technicolour

Supersymmetry and supergravity

 10. New Insights in Quantum Field Theory and Mathematics

Edward Witten

Instantons in Yang-Mills theory and in mathematics

Lattice gauge theory

Large N

Two-dimensional quantum field theories

Anomalies and quantum mechanical symmetry breaking

Topological quantum field theory

Further reading

 11. String Theory: History

S-matrix theory

The first string theories

The first superstring theory revolution

The second superstring theory revolution

Recent trends

Further reading

 12. String Theory and Supersymmetry: An Evaluation

Supersymmetry

Superstring theory

String theory, supersymmetry and mathematics

 13. On Beauty and Difficulty

 14. Is Superstring Theory Science?

 15. The Bogdanov Affair

 16. The Only Game in Town: The Power and the Glory of String Theory

 17. The Landscape of String Theory

 18. Other Points of View

 19. Conclusion

Notes

Index