RUI: Aspects Of Non-Local Dynamics In String Theory

从凝聚态物理到粒子物理再到量子引力，非局部动力学是物理学中许多学科的新兴兴趣。这个项目探讨了非局部动力学的影响，在某一类对宇宙学特别感兴趣的弦理论模型的背景下实现。这些模型的弦理论嵌入保证了所遇到的奇异框架在物理上和逻辑上是自洽的。然而，对这种非局部系统的了解仍然很少，有许多反直觉的特征和明显的悖论。该项目旨在揭示非局部动力学的一般特征，因为它们出现在这类弦理论模型中，并将这些结果应用于宇宙的原始等离子体的建模。该项目还涉及到本科教育作为一个组成部分。这是通过双管齐下的方法来实现的：(1)通过本科生直接参与研究项目，该项目已经被证明是非常成功的，可以让本科生参与弦理论研究；(2)通过开发高级本科课程和教科书，帮助学生为具有竞争力的理论物理研究生课程做好准备。该项目还包括一个多管齐下的社区外展组成部分，涉及一个基于网络的教学资源，以及一个关于理论物理前沿当前主题的公开讲座系列。

Non-local dynamics is an emerging interest in physics across many disciplines, from condensed matter physics to particle physics to quantum gravity. This project explores the effects of non-local dynamics as realized in the context of a certain class of string theory models of particular interest to cosmology. The string theory embedding of these models assures that the exotic frameworks encountered are physically and logically self-consistent. Yet, such non-local systems remain poorly understood, with many counter-intuitive features and apparent paradoxes. This project aims to unravel general features of non-local dynamics as they arise in this class of string theory models, and apply these results to modeling the primordial plasma of the universe. The project also involves undergraduate education as an integral part. This is achieved through a two-pronged approach: (1) through the direct participation of undergraduate students in the research within a program that has already proven to be highly successful in involving undergraduate seniors in string theory research; and (2) through the development of a senior-level undergraduate course and textbook to help prepare students for competitive graduate programs in theoretical physics. The project also includes a multi-pronged community outreach component involving a web-based instructional resource, and a public lecture series on current topics at the frontier of theoretical physics.