Hyperhelices: A classical analog for strings and hidden dimensions

A hyperhelix is a structure consisting of a rod coiled into a helix, coiled into a helix,..., through a finite or even infinite number of orders. An examination of the transverse vibrations of such a structure shows that the macroscopic behavior is accounted for by waves on the rod that are confined to an extremely small range of wave numbers centered about a value equal to the reciprocal of the smallest helical radius involved. All other dynamical aspects of the behavior and their associated physical dimensions are completely hidden at the level of the final helix. It is suggested that the study of the dynamics of such a structure might provide a fruitful analogy for understanding the string theory. © 2004 American Association of Physics Teachers. @DOI: 10.1119/1.1652038#