Is the Universe REALLY a Hologram?

Sabine Hossenfelder9 minutes read

Real holograms are created by encoding three-dimensional objects on flat surfaces through light interference, involving laser light for alignment, with each hologram part containing information about the entire object. The holographic principle, supported by string theorists, suggests that the universe may function as a hologram, challenging traditional ideas about information storage in space.

Insights

  • Real holograms encode three-dimensional objects on flat surfaces through laser interference, capturing light intensity to create a 3D image, challenging the notion of holograms solely as security measures.
  • String theorists suggest the universe operates as a hologram, with gravitational theory in certain spaces mathematically equivalent to a field theory on their boundaries, reshaping traditional ideas about information storage and spatial understanding.

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Recent questions

  • What are holograms and how are they created?

    Holograms are three-dimensional objects encoded on flat surfaces through the interference of light waves. They are created by splitting a laser beam, aiming it at an object, recombining the beams, capturing the light intensity on a screen, and developing the film to reproduce a three-dimensional image.

  • How do holograms create the illusion of depth?

    Holograms create the illusion of depth by composing several two-dimensional images that reflect different angles, giving the appearance of a three-dimensional image. Each part of the hologram contains information about the entire object, contributing to the overall three-dimensional effect.

  • What is the AdS/CFT duality in string theory?

    The AdS/CFT duality in string theory proposes a mathematical equivalence between gravitational theory in anti-de Sitter spaces and a conformal field theory on the boundary of those spaces. This theory suggests that the universe may be a hologram, challenging traditional views of space and information storage.

  • How does the holographic principle challenge conventional understanding?

    The holographic principle, if true, implies that information about any volume in the universe is encoded on the boundary of that volume. This challenges the conventional understanding of information storage in space, suggesting that the universe may operate as a hologram with information distributed differently than previously thought.

  • Where are holograms commonly used for security?

    Holograms are commonly used for security measures on cards and banknotes. They appear as three-dimensional objects above or behind flat films, providing a visually striking and difficult-to-replicate feature for authentication and anti-counterfeiting purposes.

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Summary

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"Real holograms: 3D images on flat surfaces"

  • Holograms in reality are not as advanced as in science fiction movies, often appearing as three-dimensional objects above or behind flat films, commonly used for security measures on cards and banknotes.
  • Real holograms encode three-dimensional objects on flat surfaces through interference of light waves, utilizing laser light for precise alignment and capturing the intensity of light on a screen.
  • The process of creating a real hologram involves splitting a laser beam, aiming it at an object, recombining the beams, capturing the light intensity on a screen, and then developing the film to reproduce a three-dimensional image.
  • Holograms are composed of several two-dimensional images that reflect different angles, creating the illusion of a three-dimensional image, with each part of the hologram containing information about the entire object.
  • String theorists propose the universe is a hologram, suggesting a mathematical equivalence between gravitational theory in anti-de Sitter spaces and a conformal field theory on the boundary of those spaces, known as the AdS/CFT duality.
  • The holographic principle, if true, implies that information about any volume in the universe is encoded on the boundary of that volume, challenging the conventional understanding of information storage in space.
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