The Building Blocks of the Universe

宇宙的基石

• 批准号: SAPIN-2015-00046
• 负责人: Frey, Andrew
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: University of Winnipeg
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Subatomic Physics Envelope - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=688078
• 关键词: Building; Blocks; Universe

My research investigates the main building blocks of the universe and the structure of space-time itself using tools from particle physics and string theory. The majority of my research aims to discover the composition of the modern universe, specifically uncovering the nature of dark matter, yet-to-be-discovered particles known only by their influence on gravity. We are in an era of rapid discovery, with multiple experiments to detect dark matter and highly sensitive astrophysical observatories now active. I am especially interested in anomalies in astroparticle physics which may be caused by dark matter and therefore give us insight into dark matter's underlying nature. I also discern the possible impact of these models for terrestrial detection experiments and even potential discoveries of new physics at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, keeping Canada at the forefront of this exciting research area.******The other theme of my research program is answering fundamental questions regarding dark energy, which is responsible for the accelerated expansion of our universe, and more broadly about the structure of space-time in quantum gravity. I work in the context of string theory, the only known theory unifying particle physics with gravity. Specifically, I study the potential energy that stabilizes the size and shape of extra dimensions in string theory. Using quantum mechanical and uniquely stringy ingredients, I will build the explicit extra-dimensional model within string theory with a four-dimensional cosmological constant. But the origin of dark energy is not its only mystery; many scientists have suggested that understanding the magnitude of dark energy may require insights about the ultimate nature of quantum gravity. Therefore, I will also study the formation of black holes in string theory with a negative cosmological constant. This work may offer hints about the behavior of space-time in quantum gravity, and it will demonstrate the interplay between different aspects of gravity, including the cosmological constant.******Most of the content of the universe -- dark matter and dark energy -- remain mysterious. My research puts Canada in a leading role uncovering the nature of these building blocks of the universe.**

我的研究利用粒子物理学和弦理论的工具来研究宇宙的主要组成部分和时空本身的结构。我的大部分研究旨在发现现代宇宙的组成，特别是揭示暗物质的本质，暗物质是尚未发现的粒子，只能通过它们对引力的影响来了解。 我们正处于一个快速发现的时代，有多项探测暗物质的实验和高度敏感的天体物理观测站现已投入使用。 我对天体粒子物理学中可能由暗物质引起的异常特别感兴趣，因此使我们能够深入了解暗物质的基本性质。我还认识到这些模型对地面探测实验的可能影响，甚至是欧洲核子研究组织大型强子对撞机新物理学的潜在发现，使加拿大在这个令人兴奋的研究领域保持领先地位。 *****我的研究计划的另一个主题是回答有关暗能量的基本问题，暗能量是我们宇宙加速膨胀的原因，更广泛地说是关于量子引力中的时空结构。 我在弦理论的背景下工作，弦理论是唯一已知的将粒子物理与重力统一起来的理论。 具体来说，我研究了弦理论中稳定额外维度的大小和形状的势能。 使用量子力学和独特的弦成分，我将在弦理论中使用四维宇宙学常数构建明确的超维模型。 但暗能量的起源并不是它唯一的谜团。许多科学家认为，了解暗能量的大小可能需要了解量子引力的最终本质。 因此，我也会研究宇宙学常数为负的弦理论中黑洞的形成。 这项工作可能会提供有关量子引力中时空行为的线索，并将展示引力不同方面之间的相互作用，包括宇宙学常数。********宇宙的大部分内容——暗物质和暗能量——仍然是神秘的。 我的研究使加拿大在揭示宇宙这些组成部分的本质方面发挥了主导作用。**