Applications of string theory

弦理论是目前理论物理不同分支之间存在的许多概念冲突的一种解决方案。这个理论试图用一个统一的框架来描述我们周围的所有自然现象。这个框架应该以一种与量子力学基本假设相一致的方式来描述基本粒子物理学（目前由粒子物理学的标准模型非常成功地描述），以及引力物理学（由爱因斯坦的广义相对论描述）。最近几年，我们对这一理论的逻辑结构的理解有了迅速的发展。提出的研究旨在扩展这些知识并将其应用于大量物理问题的研究。许多这样的问题困扰着之前将引力量子化并将其与其他基础物理学统一起来的尝试。因此，这些问题应该作为弦理论成功实现其宏伟目标的标准。理解与量子引力有关的谜题应该用来更好地掌握重力在不寻常情况下的行为。早期宇宙宇宙学就是这样一个领域，在这个领域中，弦理论的应用有望带来一幅全新的物理图景。这也是对该理论进行真正检验（即实验检验）最有希望的背景。宇宙学已经成为一门非常精确的实验科学，弦理论的印记可能就在我们周围，等待着我们变得足够聪明来破译它们！

String theory is a proposed solution to the many conceptual conflicts existing currently between differentbranches of theoretical physics. The theory attempts to describe all natural phenomena around us in one unifiedframework. This framework should then describe the physics of elementary particles(currently described verysuccessfully by the standard model of particle physics), as well as gravitational physics (described by Einsteintheory of general relativity), in a manner consistent with the basic postulates of quantum mechanics.The last few years have seen a rapid development in our understanding of the logical structure of the theory.The research proposed is aimed at extending this knowledge and applying it to the study of a vast array ofphysical questions. Many such questions have plagued previous attempts to quantize gravity and to unify itwith the rest of fundamental physics. As such, these questions should serve as as yardstick for the success ofstring theory in its ambitious goals.Understanding the puzzles related to quantum gravity should be used to get a better grasp of the behavior ofgravity in unusual circumstances. One such arena is that of early universe cosmology, where applying stringtheory will hopefully result in a qualitatively new picture of the physics. This is also the context most hopeful for a true test of the theory, namely an experimental one. Cosmology has become a very precise experimental science, and imprints of string theory may be all around us, waiting for us to become smart enough to decipher them!