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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 99: Andere Gebiete der Theorie

T 99.1: Talk

Thursday, March 27, 2014, 16:45–17:00, P1

Why the Standard Model is a Scientific Dead End — •Alexander Unzicker — Pestalozzi-Gymnasium München

A methodological and historical review of particle physics is given. Since 1930, fundamental physics has changed from a search for the fundamental laws of nature to a technology-oriented description of measurements. The current paradigm doesn't reflect any more the convictions of Einstein, Schrödinger and Dirac on which their findings were based.

As fundamental questions are concerned, it is argued that postwar high energy physics is a futile enterprise in its entirety. The following key points will be addressed:

1) The standard model, particularly the number of its free parameters, has grown to an incredible complication. 2) None of the great riddles of physics that have persisted for a century have been solved. 3) History strongly suggests that the current model is a symptom of a Kuhnian crisis. 4) Ever-more intricate experimental techniques such as triggering, filtering of weak signals and targeted modeling, have brought scientists to assign a meaning to poorly specified, aritrary and ultimately banal events. 5) Cognitive biases and other sociological and psychological aspects of how scientific convictions form are disregarded in the community, while the established opinions are dominated by faith in expert opinions, group-think and the lack of an open discussion culture. 6) The data analysis is far too complex to be overseen by anybody. Basic scientific requirements such as repeatability, transparency and ultimately falsifiablility are missing.