Quantum Field Theory of Elementary Particles

在过去的二十年里，弦理论一直是理论高能物理中研究最深入的领域之一。这是正确的，主要是因为弦理论提供了目前最成功的方法，将重力与其他基本力(强、弱和电磁)统一起来。弦理论的结果也延伸到了物理学的许多其他分支，导致了对规范理论、凝聚态物理和重离子物理的更好理解。弦理论也为数学带来了强大的新见解。在这个项目中，德克萨斯高能理论小组建议继续寻求对弦理论的更深层次的理解，特别是关注它与宇宙学的联系。在这一领域取得进展需要多管齐下的方法，德克萨斯州高能理论小组计划探索从该理论的适当数学公式到提取其对低能物理的影响等一系列问题。同时，他们还建议遵循超越标准模型的实用现象学方法来处理宇宙学和物理学中的问题。该小组设想的更广泛的影响活动包括对研究生和博士后的专业培训。他们还打算继续其高度重视的外联和教育活动。例如，温伯格教授最近编写了一些非常受欢迎的教科书，这些教科书被广泛认为是对科学界知识传播的重大贡献。他还做了许多公开演讲。同样，Distler教授写了一个博客，讨论并阐明了许多出现在每日arxiv列表上的重要研究论文，他计划继续他的活动。

For the past two decades, string theory has been one of the most intensely investigated areas of theoretical high-energy physics. This is true chiefly because string theory offers what is currently the most successful method of unifying gravity with the other fundamental forces (strong, weak, and electromagnetic). Results from string theory have also spilled over into many other branches of physics, leading to improved understanding of gauge theories, condensed-matter physics, and heavy-ion physics. String theory has also led to powerful new insights in mathematics. In this project, the Texas high-energy theory group proposes to continue their quest for a deeper understanding of string theory, focusing, in particular, on its connection with cosmology. Making progress in this field requires a many-pronged approach, and the Texas high-energy theory group plans to probe issues ranging from the proper mathematical formulation of the theory to extracting its implications for low-energy physics. At the same they also propose to proceed by following a pragmatic phenomenological approach to questions in cosmology and physics beyond the Standard Model.The envisioned broader impact activities of this group include the professional training of graduate students and postdocs. They also intend to continue their highly regarding outreach and education activities. For example, Professor Weinberg has recently authored a number of extremely well-received textbooks which are widely viewed as major contributions to the dissemination of knowledge in the scientific community. He also gives numerous public lectures. Likewise, Professor Distler authors a blog which discusses and elucidates many of the important research papers which appear on the daily arXiv listings, and he plans to continue his activity.