Research in the Quantum Field Theory of Elementary Particles

理论物理的研究将涵盖广泛的主题，重点是弦和M理论，以及宇宙学。弦理论和M理论是我们最好的候选理论，它可以统一所有的自然基本力，包括重力。我们将努力在弦和M理论的基本表述方面取得进展，并提高我们在这些理论中计算的能力，以便最终能够接触到实验数据。在宇宙学中，研究将包括试图理解“宇宙常数”，它在自然界中的明显存在导致了宇宙膨胀的加速。宇宙常数的存在和性质是宇宙学中突出的难题之一。

Research in theoretical physics will cover a broad spectrum of topics focussed on string and M theory, and on cosmology. String and M theory are our best candidates for a theory that can unify all the basic forces of nature, including gravity. Efforts will be made to make progress towards a fundamental formulation of string and M theory, and to sharpen our ability to calculate in these theories, so as to ultimately be able to make contact with experimental data. In cosmology, research will include attempts to understand the "cosmological constant," whose apparent presence in nature is resulting in the acceleration of the expansion of the universe. The presence and nature of the cosmological constant is one of the outstanding puzzles in cosmology.