爱因斯坦的未竟之梦:物理规律的大统一

Einstein's unrealized dream:Unification of physical laws

本文对物理学中的统一理论的发展历史和目前的现状展开综述.从牛顿的天和地的统一,到麦克斯韦的电、磁、光的统一;从爱因斯坦的时间、空间和物质的统一,到电磁作用和弱作用的统一.对一些未成功的统一理论(引力和电磁的统一、强作用和电磁作用以及弱作用的统一、夸克和轻子的统一、超对称大统一)也给予简要介绍.最后评述目前正在尝试的试图把所有相互作用都统一进来的超弦理论.

In this review, we survey the history and status of the unification of physical laws. Starting from Newton＇ s unification of celestial and terrestrial laws, we recall Maxwell＇s unification of electromagnetism and light, Einstein＇s unification of spacetime and matter, and the unification of electromagnetic and weak interactions. We also mention some unsuccessful unification attempts like the unification of gravity and electromagnetism, the unification of quarks and leptons as well as the supersymmetric grand unification. Finally, we comment on the ongoing string theory which tries to unify all interactions.