Project description
Unifying effective field theories with quantum gravity at high energies
Quantum physics and Einstein's theory of general relativity are the two main pillars that underlie much of modern physics. Ordinary quantum field theories, which combine classical field theory, special relativity and quantum mechanics, are an excellent approximation when describing the behaviour of microscopic particles in weak gravitational fields. At high energies, however, not every quantum field theory can be consistently coupled to gravity at quantum level, unless it satisfies some additional conditions known as Swampland constraints. The EU-funded QGuide project aims to determine the constraints that quantum gravity imposes at low energies. Researchers will uncover the fundamental principles underlying the Swampland conjectures and look for new universal constraints in the context of string theory. This can have profound implications for Particle Physics and Cosmology, providing new guiding principles to progress in High Energy Physics.
Objective
What are the constraints that a low energy Effective Field Theory must satisfy to be consistent with a Quantum Gravity description at higher energies? Can we determine these constraints in a precise way and use them as new guiding principles to progress in High Energy Physics? Recently, novel quantum gravity criteria have been proposed that imply non-trivial constraints on models of Particle Physics and Cosmology and can provide the missing piece to solve the long-standing naturalness issues observed in our universe. However, none of these so-called Swampland constraints have been completely proven yet; and often, they even lack a precise formulation.
The goal of my proposal is to determine the constraints that Quantum Gravity imposes at low energies by uncovering the fundamental principles underlying the Swampland conjectures and looking for new universal constraints in the context of string theory. To achieve this goal, I propose a novel approach based on cutting-edge mathematical techniques of algebraic geometry and the topological cobordism groups that extend the notion of symmetry. Each conjecture will be subject to scrutiny such that it gets either disproven or promoted to a sharp statement in the realm of well-established string compactifications. Specific goals include an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms by which string theory avoids new classes of generalised global symmetries, a complete classification of the field spectra emerging at the large field limits of flat space string compactifications, developing new methods to study the scalar potential at the large field limits and determining whether supersymmetry is a necessary condition to ensure vacuum stability. These new quantum gravity constraints will trigger a revolution in our understanding of the Quantum Gravity imprint at low energies, addressing questions about axions, neutrino masses, inflation, hierarchy problems, weakly coupled charged matter and the accelerated expansion of the universe.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics neutrinos
- social sciences political sciences political transitions revolutions
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy physical cosmology
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Keywords
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2021-STG
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1211 GENEVE 23
Switzerland
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