Description
Book SynopsisIs the universe fine-tuned for complexity, life, or something else? This comprehensive overview of fine-tuning arguments in physics, with contributions from leading researchers in their fields, sheds light on this often used but seldom understood topic. Each chapter reviews a specific subject in modern physics, such as dark energy, inflation, or solar system formation, and discusses whether any parameters in our current theories appear to be fine-tuned and, if so, to what degree. Connections and differences between these fine-tuning arguments are made clear, and detailed mathematical derivations of various fine-tuned parameters are given. This accessible yet precise introduction to fine-tuning in physics will aid students and researchers across astrophysics, atomic and particle physics and cosmology, as well as all those working at the intersections of physics and philosophy.
Trade Review'… the questions posed here are of strong interest to many … Recommended' C. Palma, Choice
Table of ContentsPart I. Introduction: 1. Fine-Tuning, Complexity, and Life in the Multiverse Mario Livio and Martin Rees; 2. Hierarchy of Fine-Structure Constants Bernard Carr; Part II. Cosmological Fine-Tunings: 3. Naturalness, fine-tuning, and observer selection in cosmology John A. Peacock; 4. Cosmic Inflation: Trick or Treat? Jerome Martin; 5. Is the Universal Matter- Anti-matter Asymmetry Fine tuned? Gary Steigman and Robert J. Scherrer; 6. Structure Formation Adrianne Slyz; Part III. Fine-tuning in Particle and Nuclear Physics: 7. Nuclear physics and its impact on primordial and stellar nucleosynthesis Jean-Philippe Uzan; 8. Fine-Tunings at Particle Scales Giulia Zanderighi; 9. Dark Matter Edward W. Kolb; Part IV. Fine-tuning for life: 10. Fine-tuning: from stars to galaxies formation Joseph Silk; 11. How Special Is the Solar System? Mario Livio; 12. On the Temporal Habitability of Our Universe; 13. Climbing up the theories of Nature: Fine-Tuning and Biological Molecules Abraham Loeb.
