Scientists propose test of string theory based on neutral hydrogen absorption

Contact:
James E. Kloeppel
Physical Sciences Editor
1-217-244-1073 kloeppel@uiuc.edu

January 28, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Ancient light absorbed by neutral hydrogen atoms could be
used to test certain predictions of string theory, say cosmologists at the
University of Illinois. Making the measurements, however, would require a
gigantic array of radio telescopes to be built on Earth, in space or on the
moon.

String theory – a theory whose fundamental building blocks are tiny
one-dimensional filaments called strings – is the leading contender for a
"theory of everything." Such a theory would unify all four fundamental forces of
nature (the strong and weak nuclear forces, electromagnetism, and gravity). But
finding ways to test string theory has been difficult.

Now, cosmologists at the U. of I. say absorption features in the 21-centimeter
spectrum of neutral hydrogen atoms could be used for such a test.

"High-redshift, 21-centimeter observations provide a rare observational window
in which to test string theory, constrain its parameters and show whether or not
it makes sense to embed a type of inflation – called brane inflation – into
string theory," said Benjamin Wandelt, a professor of physics and of astronomy
at the U. of I.

"If we embed brane inflation into string theory, a network of cosmic strings is
predicted to form," Wandelt said. "We can test this prediction by looking for
the impact this cosmic string network would have on the density of neutral
hydrogen in the universe."

Wandelt and graduate student Rishi Khatri describe their proposed test in a
paper accepted for publication in the journal Physical Review Letters.

About 400,000 years after the Big Bang, the universe consisted of a thick shell
of neutral hydrogen atoms (each composed of a single proton orbited by a single
electron) illuminated by what became known as the cosmic microwave background.

Because neutral hydrogen atoms readily absorb electromagnetic radiation with a
wavelength of 21 centimeters, the cosmic microwave background carries a
signature of density perturbations in the hydrogen shell, which should be
observable today, Wandelt said.

Cosmic strings are filaments of infinite length. Their composition can be
loosely compared to the boundaries of ice crystals in frozen water.

When water in a bowl begins to freeze, ice crystals will grow at different
points in the bowl, with random orientations. When the ice crystals meet, they
usually will not be aligned to one another. The boundary between two such
misaligned crystals is called a discontinuity or a defect.

Cosmic strings are defects in space. A network of strings is predicted by string
theory (and also by other supersymmetric theories known as Grand Unified
Theories, which aspire to unify all known forces of nature except gravity) to
have been produced in the early universe, but has not been detected so far.

Cosmic strings produce characteristic fluctuations in the gas density through
which they move, a signature of which will be imprinted on the 21-centimeter
radiation.

The cosmic string network predicted to occur with brane inflation could be
tested by looking for the corresponding fluctuations in the 21-centimeter
radiation.
Like the cosmic microwave background, the cosmological 21-centimeter radiation
has been stretched as the universe has expanded. Today, this relic radiation has
a wavelength closer to 21 meters, putting it in the long-wavelength radio
portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

To precisely measure perturbations in the spectra would require an array of
radio telescopes with a collective area of more than 1,000 square kilometers.
Such an array could be built using current technology, Wandelt said, but would
be prohibitively expensive.

If such an enormous array were eventually constructed, measurements of
perturbations in the density of neutral hydrogen atoms could also reveal the
value of string tension, a fundamental parameter in string theory, Wandelt said.
"And that would tell us about the energy scale at which quantum gravity begins
to become important."

Funding was provided by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

To reach Benjamin Wandelt, call 1-217-333-9374; e-mail: bwandelt@uiuc.edu.