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Non-perturbative dynamics of quantum fields: from new deconfined phases of matter to quantum black holes

Project description

New computational techniques to enhance understanding of strong quantum-system interactions

Strong coupling between the different degrees of freedom – the number of independent variables that describe a quantum system – gives rise to a plethora of exotic, unconventional phenomena with no classical counterpart. Using quantum field theory to explain the behaviour of subatomic particles and their interactions becomes extremely complex. The ambitious goal of the EU-funded NP-QFT project is to develop new computational techniques that can shed more light on the physics of strongly coupled particles in a quantum system. With the help of these new approaches, project researchers will refine the concept of symmetry, develop supersymmetric localisation and probe Borel summability of certain gauge theories. Deciphering strong couplings between variables in a quantum system will revolutionise different fields such as particle physics, condensed matter physics and astrophysics.

Objective

When the degrees of freedom that constitute a quantum physical system are strongly coupled among each other, their collective low-energy behaviour can exhibit a plethora of exotic, surprising and unconventional phenomena. At the same time, however, our most sophisticated tool to describe the quantum world - quantum field theory - becomes extremely difficult to use. This problem appears across the board in many areas, from particle physics, to condensed matter physics, to astrophysics: strong coupling is an intrinsic complexity of quantum systems, whose solution can benefit disparate fields. A large variety of examples is provided by deconfined quantum states of matter, in which the collective behaviour gives rise to emergent low-energy degrees of freedom, often strongly coupled. Another context in which decrypting strong coupling can be the key to a breakthrough is quantum gravity: by the celebrated AdS/CFT correspondence, we can describe gravity in Anti-de-Sitter space in a fully-consistent quantum fashion, in terms of an ordinary - but strongly coupled - quantum field theory in one dimension less.
The ambitious goal of this project is twofold: first, to develop innovative techniques to tame strong coupling; second, to exploit those techniques to discover new deconfined phases of matter on one side, and to unravel mysteries of quantum gravity and the quantum physics of black holes on the other side.
I will follow several avenues in the quest for new computational tools at strong coupling, such as refining the concept of symmetry, developing supersymmetric localization, probing Borel summability of certain gauge theories. Applying these and other methods, I will systematically explore three-dimensional gauge theories with bosons and fermions, landscaping their phase diagrams and deconfined critical points. Meanwhile, I will extract the quantum entropy and other properties of black holes, exploring signatures of quantum effects to be compared with future experiments.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2019-COG

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Host institution

SCUOLA INTERNAZIONALE SUPERIORE DI STUDI AVANZATI DI TRIESTE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 552 458,00
Address
VIA BONOMEA 265
34136 Trieste
Italy

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Region
Nord-Est Friuli-Venezia Giulia Trieste
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 552 458,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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