Bastin and Kilmister, who are not further identified, challenge the conventional view that discreteness entered physics with mathematical tools that chopped up continuous phenomena in order to facilitate calculation. They argue instead that discrete particles evolved from the perception of other discrete entities, and that the relevant algebra followed perception rather than shaped it. Their topics include combinatorial space, dimensionality, the simple bit-string picture, the fine-structure constant calculated, process and iteration, perception, and just six numbers. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
This book is a unique summary of the results of a long research project undertaken by the authors on discreteness in modern physics. In contrast with the usual expectation that discreteness is the result of mathematical tools for insertion into a continuous theory, this more basic treatment builds up the world from the discrimination of discrete entities. This gives an algebraic structure in which certain fixed numbers arise. As such, one agrees with the measured value of the fine-structure constant to one part in 10,000,000 (107).
