From the Quantum to the Multiverse: Probing the Universe

Quantum Mechanics is among the great intellectual achievements of the 20th century, and how this came about is interesting in itself. Quantum theory was once widely held to resist any realist interpretation and to mark the advent of a postmodern science characterized by paradox, uncertainty, and the limits of precise measurement. It seems that there is a realm of reality in the subatomic or micro-physical domain. The success of the Aspect Experiment in Paris in 1982 marked the end of the contemplation period, with the first direct experimental proof that even the most unusual aspects of QM are a literal description of the way things really are in the real world. Further analyses of QM have led scientists to ponder the possibility of multiple dimensions. Extra dimensions have changed the way physicists think about the Universe. And because the connections of extra dimensions in the Cosmos could connect to many more well-established physics ideas; extra dimensions are a way to approach older, already verified facts about the Universe. As a consequence of this, physicists have postulated the real possibility of parallel universes. This book contains no advanced scientific concepts, and no complicated formulas are written down for analysis. However, the text does present some simple mathematical related concepts in various chapters; some of which overlap into subsequent chapters. This is stressed in order to reinforce a particular idea and maintain historical continuity. It is not assumed that the reader has an understanding of Quantum Physics. Therefore, the text provides the reader with enough historical and scientific information to secure his or her confidence in understanding the makeup and behavior of the Quantum and of the Multiverse.