M-theory, Superspace and Higher Spin Theories

该奖项资助了德克萨斯A M大学的Katrin Becker、Melanie Becker和Ergin Sezgin教授的研究活动。弦理论提供了一个框架，以符合量子力学定律的方式描述引力。然而，弦理论通常要求在宽度、长度和高度之外存在额外的维度。 这些额外的维度必须被卷到非常小的空间中，这些空间的形状决定了弦理论预测的基本粒子。 由于这些原因，了解这些额外维度的详细形状是很重要的。 同样，将爱因斯坦的引力理论与量子力学结合起来，涉及到一种假设的粒子--所谓的“引力子”--它传递引力相互作用并携带两个单位的自旋。 然而，弦理论也可以对爱因斯坦的理论进行显著的扩展，包括更高自旋的引力子类似物。 由于这些原因，弦理论可能对早期宇宙物理学产生深远的影响。 在他们的研究中，贝克尔教授，贝克尔教授和塞兹金的目标是调查这些和其他基本问题，涉及弦理论，引力和更高自旋理论之间的联系。 因此，该项目通过促进美国基础科学的进步来促进国家利益。 预计该项目还将产生更广泛的重大影响。 这项研究不仅将进一步发展弦理论和数学之间的接口，而且还将为博士后和学生提供一个批判性训练的竞技场。 Becker教授、Becker教授和Sezgin教授还将就他们的研究成果进行公开演讲，并组织科学研讨会，以帮助推动该领域的发展。从技术上讲，Becker教授、Becker教授和Sezgin教授的目标是构建不同弦理论和M理论紧化对斜率参数及其在超空间中的表述的所有阶次的完整时空有效作用量。 他们的目标是使用物理思想和方法来解决数学中长期存在的问题。 此外，贝克尔，贝克尔和塞兹金教授将研究更高自旋理论的全息描述，它与物质的耦合，自发对称性破缺，宇宙学解决方案及其对早期宇宙物理学的影响。 他们还将研究特殊场论框架内弦和膜的对偶对称性的几何描述的具体方面。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award funds the research activities of Professors Katrin Becker, Melanie Becker, and Ergin Sezgin at Texas A&M University.String theory provides a framework for describing gravity in a way which is consistent with the laws of quantum mechanics. However, string theories generally require that there exist extra dimensions beyond those of width, length, and height. Such extra dimensions must be rolled into very small spaces, and the shapes of these spaces determine which elementary particles are predicted by string theory. For these reasons, it is important to understand the detailed shapes of these extra dimensions. Likewise, combining Einstein's theory of gravity with quantum mechanics involves a hypothetical particle --- the so-called "graviton" --- which transmits gravitational interactions and carries two units of spin. However, string theory can also give rise to remarkable extensions of Einstein's theory which involve higher-spin analogues of the graviton. For these reasons, string theory can have profound consequences for early-universe physics. In their research, Professors Becker, Becker, and Sezgin aim to investigate these and other fundamental questions involving the connections between string theory, gravity, and higher-spin theories. As such, this project advances the national interest by promoting progress in fundamental science within the United States. This project is also envisioned to have significant broader impacts. Not only will this research further develop the interface between string theory and mathematics, but it will also provide an arena for the critical training for postdocs and students. Professors Becker, Becker, and Sezgin will also give public lectures on their research results and organize scientific workshops to help advance the field.More technically, Professors Becker, Becker, and Sezgin aim to construct the full spacetime effective action of different string theory and M-theory compactifications to all orders in the slope parameter and its formulation in superspace. Their goal is to use physical ideas and methods to solve long-standing problems in mathematics. Further, Professors Becker, Becker, and Sezgin will study the holographic description of higher-spin theory, its coupling to matter, spontaneous symmetry breaking, cosmological solutions and their consequences for early-universe physics. They will also study specific aspects of a geometrical description of duality symmetries of strings and branes within a framework known as exceptional field theory.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.