The Mandelbrot set and the fractal nature of light, the Universe, and everything

L. Gardi

doi:10.1117/12.2023739

1 October 2013 The Mandelbrot set and the fractal nature of light, the Universe, and everything

L. Gardi

Proceedings Volume 8832, The Nature of Light: What are Photons? V; 883210 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023739
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

“There is always another way to say the same thing that doesn’t look at all like the way it was said before.” Richard Feynman. In this essay, a novel approach to cosmology is presented that mathematically models the Universe as an iterated function system (IFS) analogous to the famous Mandelbrot Set IFS (M): z=z2+c, where z and c are complex numbers. In theoretical physics, wavefunctions are functions of a complex space that are commonly used to model the dynamics of particles and waves. In the IFS framework presented herein, complex dynamical systems are generated via the iteration process, where the act of iteration corresponds to 1) a change in the state of the system and 2) a change to the wavefunction itself. In this manner, M can be considered a wavefunction generator. In this framework, all observables, including gravity and time, are thought to be generated by the iteration process. Feynman understood that there are many ways of looking at the Universe that are equivalent in nature but different psychologically. Understanding cosmology in terms of fractals and iterated function systems requires a paradigm shift in the way we approach cosmology. This is an evidence based dissertation and does not contradict the standard model; rather, it attempts to reconstruct it using the principles of the fractal paradigm as outlined in this essay. It is the contention of the author that in order to understand the true nature of light, the universe and everything, we must first understand the important role that fractal cosmology plays in the study of our complex dynamical universe.

Citation Download Citation

L. Gardi "The Mandelbrot set and the fractal nature of light, the Universe, and everything", Proc. SPIE 8832, The Nature of Light: What are Photons? V, 883210 (1 October 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023739

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available