Unified field theory

"Unified theory" redirects here. For the band, see Unified Theory (band).
Not to be confused with Grand Unified Theory.

In physics, a unified field theory (UFT) is a type of field theory that allows all that is usually thought of as fundamental forces and elementary particles to be written in terms of a pair of physical and virtual fields. According to modern discoveries in physics, forces are not transmitted directly between interacting objects but instead are described and interpreted by intermediary entities called fields.[1]

However, a duality of the fields is combined into a single physical field.[2] For over a century, unified field theory has remained an open line of research. The term was coined by Albert Einstein,[3] who attempted to unify his general theory of relativity with electromagnetism. The "Theory of Everything" [4] and Grand Unified Theory[5] are closely related to unified field theory, but differ by not requiring the basis of nature to be fields, and often by attempting to explain physical constants of nature. Earlier attempts based on classical physics are described in the article on classical unified field theories.

The goal of a unified field theory has led to a great deal of progress for future theoretical physics, and progress continues.[6]

  1. ^ "Unified field theory | Einstein's Theory of Relativity | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  2. ^ Ernan McMullin (2002). "The Origins of the Field Concept in Physics" (PDF). Phys. Perspect. 4 (1): 13–39. Bibcode:2002PhP.....4...13M. doi:10.1007/s00016-002-8357-5. S2CID 27691986.
  3. ^ "How the search for a unified theory stumped Einstein to his dying day". phys.org.
  4. ^ Stephen W. Hawking (28 February 2006). The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe. Phoenix Books; Special Anniv. ISBN 978-1-59777-508-3.
  5. ^ Ross, G. (1984). Grand Unified Theories. Westview Press. ISBN 978-0-8053-6968-7.
  6. ^ Goenner, Hubert F. M. (2004-12-01). "On the History of Unified Field Theories". Living Reviews in Relativity. 7 (1): 2. Bibcode:2004LRR.....7....2G. doi:10.12942/lrr-2004-2. ISSN 1433-8351. PMC 5256024. PMID 28179864.