RUI: Supersymmetric Gauge Theory and String Theory

该RUI奖资助鲍登学院Stephen G. Naculich教授的研究活动。超对称是一种数学对称，将玻色子（或具有整数自旋的粒子）与费米子（或具有半整数自旋的粒子）联系起来。自20世纪70年代初其最初的数学公式以来，超对称在高能物理和弦理论的许多分支中发挥了重要作用。事实上，在理解困难的强耦合系统的性质方面所取得的大多数重大进展都是在超对称环境中分析这些系统时发生的。超对称在弦理论中也起着不可或缺的作用，没有超对称的弦理论是否一致仍然是一个悬而未决的问题。在这个项目中，Naculich教授旨在研究超对称场论和弦理论之间的联系。具体来说，他建议关注超对称规范理论和超引力理论的微扰和非微扰方面，正如它们通过dirichlet膜（d膜）和AdS/CFT对应与弦理论的联系所阐明的那样。这项研究还被设想有几个更广泛的影响。所获得的见解将通过期刊出版物、研讨会和会议记录传播，将有助于更好地控制规范理论的高环路效应。这对于理解量子色动力学（QCD）的预测，以及对弦理论更深入和更基本的理解是必不可少的。由于本项目涉及本科生的整体参与，它也将通过提供量子力学、群论和场论的培训，以及接触理论物理的研究方法，为本科生的教育做出贡献。

This RUI award funds the research activities of Professor Stephen G. Naculich at Bowdoin College.Supersymmetry is a mathematical symmetry that relates bosons, or particles with integer spin, to fermions, or particles with half-integer spin. Since its original mathematical formulation in the early 1970's, supersymmetry has played a significant role in numerous branches of high-energy physics and string theory. Indeed, most of the major advances that have occurred in understanding the properties of difficult strongly-coupled systems have occurred when these systems are analyzed in a supersymmmetric context. Supersymmetry also plays an integral role in string theory, and it is still an open question whether string theories are consistent without supersymmetry. In this project, Professor Naculich aims to study the connections between supersymmetric field theories and string theory. Specifically, he proposes to focus on both perturbative and non-perturbative aspects of supersymmetric gauge theory and supergravity theory, as illuminated by their connection to string theory through Dirichlet-branes (D-branes) and the AdS/CFT correspondence.The research is also envisioned to have several broader impacts. The insights gained, which will be disseminated through journal publications, seminars, and conference proceedings, will contribute to better control over higher-loop effects of gauge theories. This is essential to understanding the predictions of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), as well as to a deeper and more fundamental understanding of string theory. Because this project integrally involves undergraduate participation, it will also contribute to the education of undergraduates by providing training in quantum mechanics, group theory, and field theory, and exposure to research methods in theoretical physics.