Twistors, Strings and Scattering Amplitudes: An LMS Durham Research Symposium

世纪以来，理论物理学的一个基本目标是从粒子物理学的“标准模型”中获得物理预言。然而，这个模型极其复杂，动作本身需要很多页才能表达出全部细节。正因为如此，大量的工作都集中在一个更简单的模型，N=4的超级杨米尔斯理论，它体现了标准模型的重要部分，但凭借额外的对称性，预计将更容易分析。欧洲核子研究中心的大型强子对撞机（将于2007年投入使用）将提供大量数据源，用于比较该理论，但在此之前，我们必须能够计算散射振幅，直到最近，许多所需的计算都超出了现有的技术。然而，在2003年12月，艾德维滕发表了一篇引人注目的论文，介绍了一种新型的理论，称为扭弦理论，它导致了惊人的和数学上美丽的图表，给出了N=4的超级杨-米尔斯理论的散射振幅公式。然而，旋量弦理论可以走得更远，它有可能成为包括量子引力在内的基础物理学的一种新方法。事实上，旋量弦理论对理论物理的几个主要领域产生了影响，并克服了这些领域的主要障碍;在某些领域取得的进展超过了前十年。如果我们要继续在国际最高水平上为这一学科的发展做出贡献，那么至关重要的是，英国科学家有机会巩固在这些领域取得的进展。de la Ossa（Oxford），L. Mason（Oxford）和Z.伯尔尼（加州大学洛杉矶分校）。这将使领先的海外和英国研究人员聚集在一起，集中研究活动和思想交流。该方案的设计将侧重于显示出特别希望的领域，以及不同群体之间的互动可能最有益的领域。会议将安排一个简洁的讲座方案，有充分的机会进行讨论、合作和非正式会谈，会议的结果将首先通过一个积极管理和容易访问的网站分发，该网站将载有与会者名单、会谈摘要和其他有关信息。主要演讲将通过网络摄像头进行录制（经演讲者许可），并在会议结束后一个月内在网站上免费提供。课堂讲稿和/或幻灯片也将放在网站上。会议的更详细记录将通过在研究期刊上发表受会议所涉主题启发的前沿文章来提供。这次会议预计将提供一个重大的持久推动世界研究领域的根本重要性，我们对物理学的理解。

A fundamental objective of theoretical physics over the last quarter of a century has been to obtain physical predictions from the `standard model' of particle physics. However, this model is extremely complicated, and the action itself takes many pages to express in full detail. Because of this, a great deal of work has focussed on a simpler model, N=4 super Yang Mills theory, which embodies important parts of the standard model but by virtue of additional symmetries is expected to be more analytically tractable.The Large Hadron Collider at CERN (due to come on stream in 2007) will provide a substantial data source against which to compare the theory, but before this can be done we must be able to calculate scattering amplitudes and, until recently, many of the required computations were beyond the existing techniques. However, in December 2003 Ed Witten published a remarkable paper which introduces a new type of theory, called twistor-string theory, which has led to striking and mathematically beautiful conjectures giving formulae for scattering amplitudes for N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. However, twistor-string theory could go much deeper than this; it has the potential to become a new approach to basic physics including quantum gravity.In fact, twistor-string theory impacts on several major areas of theoretical physics, and overcomes major obstacles in these areas; the resulting progress in some areas has outstripped that of the previous decade. It is crucial that UK scientists be given an opportunity to consolidate the progress that has been made in these areas if we are to continue to contribute to the development of this subject at the highest international level.It is proposed to hold a 5-day conference in August 2007 at the University of Durham entitled Twistors, Strings and Scattering Amplitudes, organised by P. Candelas (Oxford), X. de la Ossa (Oxford), L. Mason (Oxford) and Z. Bern (UC Los Angeles). This will bring together leading overseas and UK researchers for a period of concentrated research activity and interchange of ideas. The programme will be designed to focus on areas which show particular promise, and where interactions between different groups are likely to be of most benefit. There will be an uncluttered lecture programme, with ample opportunities for discussions, collaborations and informal talks.The results of the meeting will be distributed initially via an actively-managed and easily accessible website, which will contain a list of participants, abstracts of talks and other relevant information. The main talks will be recorded (with permission of the speakers) via a web-cam, and be made freely available on the website within one month of the finish of the meeting. Lecture notes and/or slides will also be put on the site. A more detailed record of the meeting will be provided by the publication in research journals of cutting-edge articles inspired by the subjects covered in the meeting. The conference is expected to provide a major lasting boost to world research in areas of fundamental importance for our understanding of physics.