String compactification, generalized geometry, and 4D physics

弦紧化、广义几何和 4D 物理

• 批准号: 0912219
• 负责人: Michael Schulz
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: Bryn Mawr College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-07-01 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0912219&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: String; compactification; generalized; geometry; 4D

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).A broad program of research is proposed to elucidate the geometrical structure that underlies the internal dimensions of string theory, and to overcome key obstacles to extracting 4D particle physics from this geometry. The two main areas that will be investigated are warped compactifications and generalized geometry. Three additional areas include global embeddings of local models of particle physics, the string theory LHC inverse problem, and a cosmological model in which conventional string theory vacua arise from a more symmetric phase in the past. Intellectual Merit: Nearly all compactifications of string theory currently under sudy are warped compactifications. It is proposed to apply string duality to derive the precise effect of warping in the reduction to 4D, and to check nonperturbative corrections to warped compactifications. The first project is essential for reliably computing perturbative mass spectra in string theory models. The second will increase confidence in recent nonperturbative mechanisms for moduli stabilization and for the generation of hierarchically small Majorana neutrino masses and mu-terms. Another critical ingredient in moduli stabilization and inflationary scenarios is internal magnetic flux, now generalized to nongeometric flux. The nongeometric flux radically alters our understanding of the internal geometry by destroying the usual 6D interpretation of the extra dimensions as a manifold. A set of strategies is outlined to more precisely characterize compactifications with generalized flux, and to extract the 4D physics of D-branes in this background. Of the remaining three proposed projects, two further advance the goal of connecting string theory to 4D physics at the scale soon to be probed at the LHC. The last project provides a concrete realization of a long speculated idea that conventional string theory vacua describe a symmetry breaking phase of a more symmetric underlying theory. Broader Impacts: The PI brings the exciting frontiers of string theory and elementary particle physics to Bryn Mawr College. Supervised research will foster diversity in science and engineering, by building on Bryn Mawr's strong tradition of individualized research mentoring of talented undergraduate women (a quarter of whom are students of color) and coeducational graduate students, with a proven track record of recruitment and retention. The Ph.D. program, as a feeder to the faculties of regional liberal arts colleges, expands research activity in high energy physics. The plan exploits existing infrastructure: departmental colloquia, the Tri-College PACT seminar, and connections to the University of Pennsylvania. The PI will initiate a Theory Lunch and a visitor program tailored to the needs of a high energy theory program at a thriving liberal arts college.

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。提出了一个广泛的研究计划，以阐明弦论内部维度的几何结构，并克服从这种几何中提取4D粒子物理的关键障碍。将被调查的两个主要领域是翘曲紧化和广义几何。另外三个领域包括粒子物理学局部模型的全局嵌入，弦论LHC逆问题，以及一个宇宙学模型，其中传统的弦论真空产生于过去的一个更对称的阶段。智力上的优点：几乎所有弦理论的紧化都是翘曲紧化。建议应用弦对偶性来推导在约化到4D时翘曲的精确效果，并检查对翘曲紧化的非微扰修正。第一个项目对于在弦理论模型中可靠地计算微扰质谱是必不可少的。第二个将增加信心，在最近的非微扰机制的模量稳定和产生的层次小马约拉纳中微子质量和μ条款。在模量稳定和暴胀的情况下，另一个关键因素是内部磁通量，现在推广到非几何通量。非几何通量彻底改变了我们对内部几何的理解，因为它破坏了通常将额外维度解释为流形的6D解释。一组策略的概述，更精确地描述与广义通量紧化，并提取在此背景下的4D物理的D-膜。在剩下的三个项目中，有两个进一步推进了将弦理论与四维物理学联系起来的目标，其规模很快将在LHC上进行探索。最后一个项目提供了一个长期推测的想法的具体实现，即传统的弦理论真空描述了一个更对称的基础理论的对称破缺阶段。更广泛的影响：PI带来了令人兴奋的弦理论和基本粒子物理学前沿布林莫尔学院。监督研究将促进科学和工程的多样性，通过建立在布林莫尔的优秀的本科女性（其中四分之一是有色人种的学生）和男女同校的研究生的个性化研究指导的强大传统，与招聘和保留的良好记录。的博士该计划作为地区文科学院的一个馈线，扩大了高能物理的研究活动。该计划利用现有的基础设施：部门座谈会，三学院PACT研讨会，并连接到宾夕法尼亚大学。PI将启动理论午餐和访客计划，以满足蓬勃发展的文理学院的高能量理论课程的需求。