Applied string theory

现代理论物理学的一个突出问题是，我们用来描述宇宙中巨大不同长度尺度的物理的两个框架之间存在着鲜明的对比。量子力学规定了对亚原子粒子在最短距离内运动的统计解释。另一方面，爱因斯坦的广义相对论使用时空几何的概念作为解释当前天体物理测量的基础。尽管这两种理论在其相应的有效性领域都经历了出色的实验测试，但它们明显的不同之处需要一个更基本的描述：从微观到天文距离都有效的单一统一框架。弦理论是目前已知的唯一有望统一亚原子粒子物理学和引力的理论。弦理论的一个特征是将它的基本成分描述为在一个维度上扩展，而不是像点一样。近年来，弦理论见证了巨大的进步，这为亚原子粒子理论和爱因斯坦的引力理论带来了新的见解。尽管如此，仍然缺乏对自然作为弦理论的真正一致的描述。我的研究重点是理解黑洞的量子属性和我们宇宙的起源，就像弦理论所描述的那样。此外，我还参与开发弦理论中的分析工具，这些工具可以为亚原子粒子的强烈相互作用提供新的线索。引力量子性质的亚原子物理中的直接实验探测器通常需要获得远远超出现代粒子加速器所能达到的能量尺度。因此，目前对任何统一理论的检验必然是在该理论基本理论框架的内部一致性中进行的。最近，有人提出，对我们宇宙的精细宇宙学测量可能会成为了解量子引力的弦特征的放大镜。目前，我的研究正在继续开发这些令人兴奋的想法。

An outstanding problem of modern theoretical physics is the striking contrast between two frameworks we use to describe physics at vastly different length scales of our Universe. Quantum mechanics prescribes a statistical interpretation to the motion of subatomic particles at shortest distances. On the other hand, Einstein's theory of general relativity uses the notion of the spacetime geometry as a basic to the interpretation of current astrophysical measurements. Though both theories have sustained remarkable experimental tests in their corresponding realms of validity, their apparent dissimilarity calls for a more fundamental description: a single unifying framework valid from microscopic to astronomical distances.String theory at present is the only known theory with the promise of unifying the physics of subatomic particles and gravity. A characteristic feature of string theory is a description of its elementary constituents as being extended in one dimension, rather than being point-like. In recent years string theory witnessed tremendous progress which have led to new insights both for the theory of subatomic particles and for Einstein's theory of gravity.  Nonetheless, a truly consistent description of Nature as a theory of strings, is still missing. My research efforts focus on understanding quantum properties of black holes and the origin of our Universe, as described by string theory. Additionally, I'm involved in developing analytical tools in string theory that could shed new light on the strong interactions of subatomic particles.Direct experimental probes in the subatomic physics of the quantum nature of gravity typically require access to energy scales well above the reach of modern particle accelerators. Thus, tests of any unifying theory at present are necessarily in the internal consistency of that theory's underlying theoretical framework. Recently, it was suggested that refined cosmological measurements of our Universe may serve as a magnifying glass into the stringy character of quantum gravity. Currently my research is continuing to develop these exciting ideas.