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JokeRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
20212a24-Feb-21 3:20
20212a24-Feb-21 3:20 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Randor 24-Feb-21 4:23
professional Randor 24-Feb-21 4:23 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
OriginalGriff24-Feb-21 6:32
mveOriginalGriff24-Feb-21 6:32 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Daniel Pfeffer24-Feb-21 3:17
professionalDaniel Pfeffer24-Feb-21 3:17 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Randor 24-Feb-21 4:26
professional Randor 24-Feb-21 4:26 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Daniel Pfeffer24-Feb-21 5:49
professionalDaniel Pfeffer24-Feb-21 5:49 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Randor 24-Feb-21 6:04
professional Randor 24-Feb-21 6:04 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Daniel Pfeffer24-Feb-21 7:17
professionalDaniel Pfeffer24-Feb-21 7:17 
If we look at the exterior spheres in your n-dimensional example, and assuming hyper-spheres of unit radius, the centre of the sphere closest to the origin is at (1, 1, 1, ...). The centre of the sphere diagonally opposite in the hyper-cube is at (3, 3, 3, ...). The distance (assuming a Euclidian space) between the centres is d2 = 22 + 22 + 22 + ... = n * 22.

We have d = 2*n0.5. The largest diameter would be dsphere = 2*(n0.5 - 1), with the largest radius being rsphere = n0.5 - 1. So far, so good.

The hidden assumption is that all dimensions are Euclidean - any line may be extended to any length, only one parallel may be drawn through a point outside a line, etc.

The problem with this is that at the macroscopic (Cosmological) level, the Universe appears to follow General Relativity, which requires a non-Euclidean space-time (3 space dimensions, 1 time dimension). If you add dimensions at the macroscopic level, you must first get rid of General Relativity. Astronomers and physicists are very reluctant to do this, because so far - General Relativity has passed every test thrown at it.

General Relativity fails when dealing with tiny objects, or space-time singularities. Quantum Mechanics rules in the tiny object range. We therefore cannot rule out the existence of additional microscopic (much smaller than a proton) dimensions. It is these microscopic dimensions that may play a part in unifying gravity with the other 3 forces.

In order to unify all forces (GUT), we will have to come up with a theory of Quantum Gravity. While we don't know the exact form that the GUT theory will take, we do know that it must:
  1. Give General Relativity in the "large mass, no singularity" limit
  2. Give Quantum Mechanics in the "small mass" limit
  3. Give new results in the "large mass, singularity" limit (which cannot be explained by either General Relativity or Quantum Mechanics)
"Dark Matter" is indeed a mystery, but I would be very reluctant to throw out all of our current theories just because there is one fact that doesn't fit. I would wait until a theory comes along that explains "dark matter" as well as all the other phenomena explained by our current theories.
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
-- 6079 Smith W.

GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Randor 24-Feb-21 8:08
professional Randor 24-Feb-21 8:08 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Marc Clifton24-Feb-21 3:20
mvaMarc Clifton24-Feb-21 3:20 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
W Balboos, GHB24-Feb-21 4:01
W Balboos, GHB24-Feb-21 4:01 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Randor 24-Feb-21 4:27
professional Randor 24-Feb-21 4:27 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
OriginalGriff24-Feb-21 6:42
mveOriginalGriff24-Feb-21 6:42 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
W Balboos, GHB24-Feb-21 4:01
W Balboos, GHB24-Feb-21 4:01 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
20212a24-Feb-21 4:55
20212a24-Feb-21 4:55 
QuestionRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Eddy Vluggen24-Feb-21 6:45
professionalEddy Vluggen24-Feb-21 6:45 
AnswerRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Randor 24-Feb-21 6:53
professional Randor 24-Feb-21 6:53 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
RedDk24-Feb-21 8:42
RedDk24-Feb-21 8:42 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Randor 24-Feb-21 9:23
professional Randor 24-Feb-21 9:23 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
Nelek24-Feb-21 9:48
protectorNelek24-Feb-21 9:48 
GeneralRe: High-Dimensional Sphere Packing Pin
RedDk24-Feb-21 11:33
RedDk24-Feb-21 11:33 
GeneralForeboding ? Pin
W Balboos, GHB24-Feb-21 1:53
W Balboos, GHB24-Feb-21 1:53 
GeneralRe: Foreboding ? Pin
Greg Utas24-Feb-21 1:59
professionalGreg Utas24-Feb-21 1:59 
GeneralRe: Foreboding ? Pin
rnbergren24-Feb-21 3:10
rnbergren24-Feb-21 3:10 
GeneralRe: Foreboding ? Pin
W Balboos, GHB24-Feb-21 3:55
W Balboos, GHB24-Feb-21 3:55 

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