Supergravity Methods in String Theory

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Marco Zagermann
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: from 2002 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5373643

String theory is the most promising candidate for a unified theory of all fundamental matter constituents and their interactions, including gravity. The main idea of string theory is to reinterpret all apparently pointlike, fundamental particles as different excitation modes of tiny, one-dimensional objects (the "strings") that can vibrate and move through space-time. Mathematical consistency of string theory requires the presence of a novel type of symmetry - supersymmetry - which relates bosonic and fermionic degrees of freedom. The low-energy limits of all string theories are so-called supergravity theories, i.e. supersymmetric field theories that involve gravity. Supergravity and supersymmetry are phenomenologically highly interesting predictions of string theory. During the last few years, however, supergravity was also recognized as an important theoretical tool for the study of string theory itself. It is precisely the objective of this project to make systematic use of this theoretical tool, i.e. to use highly developed supergravity techniques to obtain a) new insights into conceptual questions of string theory and quantum gravity and b) to make contact with observable phenomena in coming decades' particle physics experiments and cosmological observations.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups