Lecture 9 | Topics in String Theory

(March 14, 2011) Leonard Susskind gives a lecture on string theory and particle physics that focuses on the mechanisms that make the universe hot.

In the last of course of this series, Leonard Susskind continues his exploration of string theory that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. In particular, the course focuses on string theory with regard to important issues in contemporary physics.

This course was originally presented in Stanford's Continuing Studies program. Leonard Susskind is the Felix Bloch Professor of Physics at Stanford University.

Stanford University:
http://www.stanford.edu/

Stanford Continuing Studies Program:
http://csp.stanford.edu/

Stanford University Channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stanford

Category:

Education

Tags:

• physics
• science
• math
• thought
• theory
• black holes
• string theory
• electron
• positron
• entropy
• light
• microwave
• relativity
• special
• general
• quantum mechanics
• atoms
• universe
• particle physics
• theoretical
• philosophy
• dark matter
• gravity
• cosmic

[alhobbel]

What an amazing lecture, especially the last hour when he opens the floor. IMO this was the most entertaining and deep lecture of Stanford physics I've watched so far.

[Dilaton100]

Ha ha, now I`ve seen all lectures starting from classical mechanics !

10^500 thanks to Prof. Lenny Susskind and Stanford :-)))

Cheers

[sbergman27]

@csmcmillion His gift is a deep dedication to teaching combined with a lot of ongoing hard work. Search YT for "The Wonder and Beauty of Teaching Physics" if you've not already seen it. Also, he has a new book out: "For the Love of Physics". Regarding Lewin as physicist, WP has a list of some of his papers. His Ph.D. is in nuclear physics. Most of the papers are on astrophysics. I'd love to see him do a course on an astrophysics subject. Though I'm still working through the MIT 801.3 course.

[csmcmillion]

@sbergman27 > I usually get modded down for doing it. (But Lewin is a hell of a lot better.)

Susskind: Gifted physicist, decent teacher

Lewin: Decent physicist (?), gifted teacher

[grunder20]

good video about man and its fields

[agapitoflores001]

Oh how I love listening to String theory lectures.

[aqouby]

@sbergman27 Yes, I've watched his lectures as well. Thanks for the advice, he is an amazing lecturer. :D

[sbergman27]

@aqouby "I dropped out of highschool when I was young and am preparing myself for college"

You might find MIT's physics 8.01, 8.02, and 8.03 more helpful for this purpose. String Theory is unlikely to appear on the entrance exam. And Walter Lewin is an excellent lecturer. I'll refrain from comparing him to Susskind on that front, since I usually get modded down for doing it. (But Lewin is a hell of a lot better.) I've put up a playlist of the 1st 6 lectures of 8.01 on my channel page.

[aqouby]

I've watched nearly 3/4 of all of Professor Susskind's lectures... I dropped out of highschool when I was young and am preparing myself for college by learning calculus, physics, and watching videos like these. Things are 100 times easier to understand because of this man. THANKYOU STANFORD! THANKYOU LEONARD SUSSKIND!

[Mondhund]

There's one thing I don't get: in deSitter space Susskind says the horizon is hot so if you let a thermometer down to the horizon and pull it back, it shows a high temperature. But IMHO from the perspective of the thermometer it's not his horizon, so it should not see a temperature rise. It's different if you measure the temperature from your point with photons where the wavelength has to fit into the distance between the object and the horizon and therefore has to be very short i.e. hot?