What is Extra dimensions: Definition and 78 Discussions

In physics, extra dimensions are proposed additional space or time dimensions beyond the (3 + 1) typical of observed spacetime, such as the first attempts based on the Kaluza–Klein theory. Among theories proposing extra dimensions are:
Large extra dimension, mostly motivated by the ADD model, by Nima Arkani-Hamed, Savas Dimopoulos, and Gia Dvali in 1998, in an attempt to solve the hierarchy problem. This theory requires that the fields of the Standard Model are confined to a four-dimensional membrane, while gravity propagates in several additional spatial dimensions that are large compared to the Planck scale.
Warped extra dimensions, such as those proposed by the Randall–Sundrum model (RS), based on warped geometry where the universe is a five-dimensional anti-de Sitter space and the elementary particles except for the graviton are localized on a (3 + 1)-dimensional brane or branes.
Universal extra dimension, proposed and first studied in 2000, assume, at variance with the ADD and RS approaches, that all fields propagate universally in the extra dimensions.
Multiple time dimensions, i.e. the possibility that there might be more than one dimension of time, has occasionally been discussed in physics and philosophy, although those models have to deal with the problem of causality.
String theory has one notable feature that requires extra dimensions for mathematical consistency. Spacetime is 26-dimensional in bosonic string theory, 10-dimensional in superstring theory, and 11-dimensional in supergravity theory and M-theory.

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  1. D

    What are the Extra Dimensions in the LHC experiment?

    What are the "Extra Dimensions" in the LHC experiment? First of all, I'd like you people to know that I'm a 10th grader. So yes, silly questions may follow. As the topic says, I want to have an idea of what the 'extra dimensions', that might possibly be discovered in the LHC experiment...
  2. arivero

    Brane world=non-compact extra dimensions?

    Just wondering. All this stuff of the brane world, where spacetime is a 3-brane inside a 10 dim world... is not the same than telling that we want to use non compact extra dimensions?
  3. T

    Exploring the Need for Extra Dimensions Before String Theory

    This may be a stupid question, but I have been curious about it for awhile. Before string theory, extra dimensions seem not to be taken seriously. But if gravity warps space doesn't it need another dimension to warp into? I saw Brian Green on TV and I thought he suggested that you don't, but he...
  4. U

    Unraveling of the extra dimensions?

    I read somewhere that string theory could be disproved if it is found out that the universe expanded at a certain speed as this would cause the extra dimensions to unravel and therefore mean that string theory could not describe our universe. I do not understand why the extra dimensions would...
  5. arivero

    How Many Extra Dimensions Are Required for SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) in String Theory?

    SU(3) needs to act on a minumum of 4 compact dimensions. SU(2) needs a minimum of 2 dimensions U(1) needs a minumum of 1 dimension Thus SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) needs 7 extra dimensions. Because of this, string theoretists do not use the extra dimensions to generate the gauge groups, and they use...
  6. wolram

    Exploring the Possibility of Extra Dimensions

    Why is it that it is thought that separate dimensions exist, as humans we can only exist in a volume, three so called dimensions, so why do scientists think that these three can be separated when in all probability and experimental AFAIK they can not, length, width and depth are just words to...
  7. M

    What are the implications of having two dimensions of time?

    I have read about the possibility of more than one time dimension but I never did really understand what the implications of that would be. What is going on in this idea? How can two dimensions of time be explained so that the layman will understand? Here's an example...
  8. C

    Detecting large extra dimensions via mini black holes ?

    Detecting large extra dimensions via "mini black holes"? Occasionally I come across something explaining that one of the possible discoveries at the Large Hadron Collider might be the production of "mini black holes", which if found would demonstrate the existence of large extra dimensions. The...
  9. C

    Detecting large extra dimensions via mini black holes ?

    Detecting large extra dimensions via "mini black holes"? Occasionally I come across something explaining that one of the possible discoveries at the Large Hadron Collider might be the production of "mini black holes", which if found would demonstrate the existence of large extra dimensions. The...
  10. L

    Extra Dimensions: What Do They Look Like?

    Scientists and mathematicians speak of extra dimensions that are "curled up" so small that it is impossible to detect them, but what exactly would an extra dimension look like:confused:? I realize that these extra dimensions have been detected mathematically, but the entire concept of something...
  11. P

    String Theory: 6 extra dimensions

    I'm confused about the 6 extra curled up dimensions in that they are always portrayed like this: http://people.cs.uchicago.edu/~mbw/astro18200/calabi-yau-grid-small.jpg" But according to that picture it seems there are multiple "extra" dimensions, and that if you move to a different location...
  12. I

    Gravitons and extra dimensions

    are there any introductory books on the theory behind gravitons and extra dimensions and also the experimental tests that could be done?
  13. M

    Extra dimensions and fibre bundles

    Hi, this is my first post. Congratulations to a very interesting forum. The issue, I want to bring up, has probably been discussed already, but hopefully at least not in exactly the same way. I have read the book "Road to Reality" from Roger Penrose, which by the way I found quite interesting...
  14. C

    Are extra dimensions required be compacted?

    The attached image file shows the extra dimensions might come from overlapping planes with different energy value. In this model the extra dimensions are very small at the point where they intersect at the parent universe event horizon at the Plank Level (10 Minue 39). This idea suggest the...
  15. L

    Extra Dimensions in String Theory

    Hello, folks - this is my first post here. I am hoping some of you will be kind enough to help me understand something I have struggled with for a long time. A brief background: My lifelong interest in science fiction led me to start reading about relativity and quantum physics around 20...
  16. S

    Searching for Extra Dimensions: Experiments & Results

    I heard from a professor at my deparmant that there are some "simple" experiments in searching for extra dimensions. after a research, the only thing that I've found is this: http://www.stanford.edu/group/kgb/Research/gravity.html after checking the experimental procedure, now, i am...
  17. R

    Winding modes and size of the extra dimensions

    I've read that the extra dims are stabilized via string winding modes - This is a bit of a star trek style question but is it theoretically possible to somehow 'interfere' with the winding modes so as to CHAGNE in some way the size of an extra dimension. I'm really interested in this - if...
  18. S

    Dark matter highlights extra dimensions

    http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050829/full/050829-18.html [PLAIN]http://xxx.arxiv.org/PS_cache/astro-ph/pdf/0508/0508572.pdf[/URL]
  19. V

    Observational Evidence for Extra Dimensions from Dark Matter

    http://xxx.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0508572 I like the way the title of this paper captures ones attention. For a minute there I thought they had finally found some evidence for string theory. From what I understand they’re speculating on astronomical observations of dark matter, by...
  20. O

    Exploring the 4th Dimension: Is Time All There Is?

    Im trying to educate myself on relativity with things such as Einstein's Dreams and The Inflationary Universe before i jump into the actual theory. Right now i understand 3 dimenions: 1, 2, and 3 for x, y, and z. I've heard the 4th dimension is time, but i am having a tough time understanding...
  21. ZapperZ

    Supersymmetry, Extra Dimensions, and Higgs Bosons

    OK, this is so unlike me to advertize a theory activity on Supersymmetry, etc. But as a community service, I thought I should point out to those who are interested, that the Argonne Theory Institute will be starting it's Theory Institute 2005 workshop titled "Supersymmetry, Extra Dimensions, and...
  22. P

    Why do extra dimensions have to be curled up ?

    Why do extra dimensions have to be "curled up"? This is my first post to this forum. I'll start with a question that has bothered me for a long time. T. Kaluza suggested to Einstein that the equations describing fundamental forces and fields could be simplified if the possibility of real...
  23. S

    Are Large Extra Dimensions still acceptable?

    are Large Extra Dimensions still acceptable Hi folks, a couple of years ago [in 1998] some people (Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos, and Dvali [ADD]) proposed a scenario which uses a string inspired brane world hypothesis. In this model the world that we see is a 3-dimensional brane in a higher...
  24. A

    MSLED: A Minimal Supersymmetric Large Extra Dimensions Scenario

    http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0404135 Cogitations and comments are welcome! :biggrin:
  25. Ivan Seeking

    Einstein makes extra dimensions TOE the line

    http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/2003/1212einstein.html
  26. T

    How can an extra dimension create gravity?

    I don't know much about physics as you will come to know after reading this. Could some one exsplain to me how an extra dimension can creat gravity? Is it that matter moves into another dimension when it's avablabe (near mass particles or "gravitons")and distorts time-space and pulls most...
  27. Poy

    Why Do Scientists Think Extra Dimensions are Strings?

    I don't know to much about the string theory or loop theory really. I have read a few books on it, but I want to know: Why do scientists think any extra dimensions take the form of strings? Is it that the formula say that is what the strings are, or is it just a way to explain why we can't see...
  28. F

    Ideas on what the extra dimensions are

    Hi. I am not a physicist or a mathematician, but I am a Professional Licensed Electrical Engineer with a Masters Degree in EE. I did get through the Quantum Physics class but never pursued the theoretical sciences any further. I say all of this because I have come up with some rather odd ideas...
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