RUI: Aspects Of Non-Local Dynamics In String Theory

RUI：弦理论中非局域动力学的各个方面

• 批准号: 0968726
• 负责人: Vatche Sahakian
• 金额: $ 6万
• 依托单位: Harvey Mudd College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-15 至 2013-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0968726&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Aspects; Non; Local; Dynamics

Non-local dynamics is an emerging interest in physics across many disciplines, from condensed matter physics to particle physics to quantum gravity. This project explores the effects of non-local dynamics as realized in the context of a certain class of string theory models of particular interest to cosmology. The string theory embedding of these models assures that the exotic frameworks encountered are physically and logically self-consistent. Yet, such non-local systems remain poorly understood, with many counter-intuitive features and apparent paradoxes. This project aims to unravel general features of non-local dynamics as they arise in this class of string theory models, and apply these results to modeling the primordial plasma of the universe. The project also involves undergraduate education as an integral part. This is achieved through a two-pronged approach: (1) through the direct participation of undergraduate students in the research within a program that has already proven to be highly successful in involving undergraduate seniors in string theory research; and (2) through the development of a senior-level undergraduate course and textbook to help prepare students for competitive graduate programs in theoretical physics. The project also includes a multi-pronged community outreach component involving a web-based instructional resource, and a public lecture series on current topics at the frontier of theoretical physics.

非局域动力学是物理学中跨学科的新兴兴趣，从凝聚态物理学到粒子物理学再到量子引力。该项目探讨了在宇宙学特别感兴趣的某类弦理论模型背景下实现的非局域动力学的影响。这些模型的弦理论嵌入确保了所遇到的奇异框架在物理上和逻辑上是自洽的。然而，这种非局域系统仍然知之甚少，具有许多反直觉的特征和明显的悖论。该项目旨在揭示此类弦理论模型中出现的非局域动力学的一般特征，并将这些结果应用于宇宙原始等离子体的建模。该项目还涉及本科教育作为一个组成部分。这是通过双管齐下的方法实现的：（1）通过本科生直接参与项目内的研究，该项目已被证明在让本科生参与弦理论研究方面非常成功； (2) 通过开发高级本科课程和教科书，帮助学生为理论物理领域有竞争力的研究生课程做好准备。该项目还包括多管齐下的社区外展部分，涉及基于网络的教学资源，以及关于理论物理前沿当前主题的公开讲座系列。