Are there "Virtual Strings"?

Question

According to Quantum Theory, all of space is potentially filled with virtual particles. String theory proscribes that particles are actually modes of vibration of strings. So are there virtual strings?

Answer 1

Nobody knows for sure. It all depends on whose math you trust.

Just as an aside, there is not yet one single shred of physical proof for string theory. There are methods being designed that will test for it, but nothing as yet has been shown to back up string theory.

Answer 2

Virtual strings are way beyond what string theory is capable of right now.

As elegant and beautiful as string theory is, the fact is since the 1980's string theory has produces the following testable predictions about the universe:



[Imagine crickets chirping]


It's been all sound and fury, signifying nothing. The larger issue with virtual strings is the staggering inadequacy of string theory. In fact, I'd argue that word is inappropriate: A theory requires a testable prediction.

Answer 3

If I understand things correctly, some stable or quasistable local minimum energy state of the string field represents our universe's present vacuum. Since the vacuum is the playground of virtual particles in the standard model, then you could say that virtual particles represent a string field with an energy less than our vacuum's energy, generally defined as zero.