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Content archived on 2024-06-25

Interconnections between superstring and Yang-Mills theories

Objective

The objective of the present proposal is the study of the interconnections between gravity and gauge theories in the framework of super-string theory. String theory is a leading candidate for a theory providing a unified description of all the fundamental forces. It naturally includes gravity, allowing its consistent description at the quantum level, but it also incorporates the gauge interactions, which are the building blocks of the Standard Model of particle physics.

The investigation of the connections between gravity and gauge interactions is a very active and dynamic field and has provided essential insights in many areas at the forefront of research in theoretical physics and mathematics. The objective of the present research proposal is to further the understanding of various aspects of these interconnections. The framework for this study is provided by the so- called AdS/CFT correspondence. This is a duality relating string theory (i.e. a theory of quantum gravity) in specific curved spaces to gauge theories living on the boundary of such spaces. A similar relation is referred to as a holographic duality since it relates the physics in a given volume to its projection on a lower dimensional screen, the boundary of the space.

This proposal focuses on the study of various aspects of the correspondence with the aim of gaining new insights into both sides of the duality. A prime objective is the application of the AdS/CFT ideas to models of direct phenomenological interest. The other main topic of the proposal is the study of specific limits of the correspondence involving string theory in gravitational plane wave backgrounds. A particularly interesting aspect recently emerged in this context is represented by the connections with the physics of integrable systems. The investigation of the consequences of this discovery is also part of the project. The proposed research presents ramifications in a wide area of physics and mathematics.

Call for proposal

FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5
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Coordinator

THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN
EU contribution
No data