Public Abstract

DE-SC0007870: Research in Theoretical High Energy Physics

Award Status: Active

Institution: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Cambridge, MA
UEI: LN53LCFJFL45
DUNS: 082359691

Most Recent Award Date: 04/21/2023
Number of Support Periods: 12
PM: Kilgore, William

Current Budget Period: 04/01/2023 - 03/31/2024
Current Project Period: 04/01/2021 - 03/31/2024
PI: Strominger, Andrew

Supplement Budget Period: N/A

Public Abstract

Research in Theoretical High Energy Physics Andrew Strominger, Daniel Jafferis and Xi Yin Harvard University, Department of Physics 17 Oxford St., Jefferson Physical Laboratory Cambridge, MA 02138 Vigorous efforts made over the last several decades have advanced our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature beyond the standard model of particle physics. Further advances would potentially include unification of the forces, the reconciliation of quantum mechanics and gravity, a derivation of the standard model couplings, a universal explanation of the area law for horizon entropy, and a theory for the origin of the universe. While solving these truly extraordinarily challenging problems will require a very long term effort, research funded by this grant has already produced a plethora of compelling and encouraging findings along this direction on quantum field theory, quantum gravity, string theory, black holes and AdS/CFT. This work has also been characterized by many fruitful cross-disciplinary collaborations and applications. In this project, we propose a multi-pronged effort to better understand the fundamental laws of nature as well as to apply the insights gained so far to other problems in physics and mathematics. Some of the major ongoing and proposed projects include quantum properties of black holes, flat space holography, entanglement in quantum field theory and string theory, observational consequences of infrared symmetries, universality at large quantum numbers, and non-perturbative effects in string theory.

Research in Theoretical High Energy Physics

Andrew Strominger, Daniel Jafferis and Xi Yin

Harvard University, Department of Physics

17 Oxford St., Jefferson Physical Laboratory

Cambridge, MA 02138

Vigorous efforts made over the last several decades have advanced our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature beyond the standard model of particle physics. Further advances would potentially include unification of the forces, the reconciliation of quantum mechanics and gravity, a derivation of the standard model couplings, a universal explanation of the area law for horizon entropy, and a theory for the origin of the universe. While solving these truly extraordinarily challenging problems will require a very long term effort, research funded by this grant has already produced a plethora of compelling and encouraging findings along this direction on quantum field theory, quantum gravity, string theory, black holes and AdS/CFT. This work has also been characterized by many fruitful cross-disciplinary collaborations and applications.

In this project, we propose a multi-pronged effort to better understand the fundamental laws of nature as well as to apply the insights gained so far to other problems in physics and mathematics. Some of the major ongoing and proposed projects include quantum properties of black holes, flat space holography, entanglement in quantum field theory and string theory, observational consequences of infrared symmetries, universality at large quantum numbers, and non-perturbative effects in string theory.