Fundamental Aspects of M-theory and Superspace

该奖项支持德克萨斯A M大学的Katrin Becker和Melanie Becker教授的研究。 基础物理学中最大的挑战之一是对非常大和非常小距离的物理现象进行统一描述。 对于大的距离，我们使用广义相对论;对于小的距离，我们使用量子理论。 统一这两种描述的最成功的候选者之一是弦理论，特别是它最近推广到所谓的M理论。 自从M理论被发现以来，已经过去了将近20年，我们已经对这个神秘的理论有了很多了解。 然而，关于M理论还有无数的问题等待着我们去解答。 作为他们研究的一部分，K. Becker和M.贝克尔将探讨M理论的公式，理论和现象学。 这项工作通过在最基本的层面上促进科学的进步，即在天文尺度上发现和理解物质和宇宙的基本组成部分，来促进国家利益。 预计该项目还将产生更广泛的重大影响。 教授K。Becker和M.贝克尔将让研究生和博士后研究员参与他们的研究，从而为在这一领域工作的初级物理学家提供关键的培训。 更技术性地说，在K. Becker和M.贝克尔将探索量子理论的存在，捕捉M理论的对称性，其高阶修正，以及它们对时空几何的影响。

This award supports the research of Professors Katrin Becker and Melanie Becker at Texas A&M University. One of the biggest challenges in fundamental physics is to develop a unified description of physical phenomena at very large and very small distances. For large distances we use general relativity, and for small distances we use quantum theory. One of the most successful candidates for unifying these two descriptions is string theory, and in particular its most recent generalization into what is called M-theory. After almost twenty years since the discovery of M-theory, we have learned a great deal about this enigmatic theory. However, there are still countless questions about M-theory that are waiting to be answered. As part of their research, Professors K. Becker and M. Becker will explore the formulation, theory, and phenomenology of M-theory. This work advances the national interest by promoting the progress of science at the most fundamental level: the discovery and understanding of the elementary building blocks of matter and of the universe at astronomical scales. The project is also envisioned to have significant broader impacts. Professors K. Becker and M. Becker will involve graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in their research, and thus provide critical training to junior physicists working in this field. More technically, in their research Professors K. Becker and M. Becker will explore the existence of quantum theories that capture the symmetries of M-theory, its higher-order corrections, and their impact on spacetime geometry.