string theory and mathematical physics

String Theory and

Mathematical Physics@ DESY

Volker Schomerus, PRC 86, Oct 16/17, 2018, Zeuthen

DESY String Theory Group

Staff: Elli Pomoni (tenured in 07/18)

Volker Schomerus (head of group)

Joerg Teschner (with UHH math)

Pedro Liendo (EN since 10/18)

Georgios Papathanasiou (5y J-staff)

Members

Postdocs: Raphael Belliard, Madalena Lemos ( CERN), Fabricio Nieri, Alessandro Pini

PhDs: Thomas Burton, Ilija Buric, Jan Peter Carstensen, Vsevolod Chestnov, Martina Cornagliotto,

Troy Figuel, Niklas Henke, Yannick Linke, Lorenzo Quintavalle.

Elli Pomoni Pedro Liendo G. Papathanasiou

String Theory and Mathematical Physics| Volker Schomerus

EN Pomoni

3

Funding and Networking I The Center for Mathematical Physics (ZMP)

ZMP grew into world-class center for Mathematical Physics

2005 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

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16 PIs

String Theory and Mathematical Physics | Volker Schomerus

Funding and Networking II


Beyond the SFB 676/RTG 1670/QU EC

+MoU signed in 16/17

by 15 leading

European Institutions

www: gatisplus.desy.de

MC ETN Scattering Amplitudes

from Geometry to Experiment (SAGEX)

Kickoff was in Sep 2018

SAGEXScattering Amplitudes from Geometry to Experiment

Two DFG funded Emmy Noether young investigator groups - Pomoni, Liendo

DESY String Theory & Zeuthen particle physics

Final Report: https://cordis.europa.eu/result/rcn/201637_en.html

Organization of Events

• Rethinking Quantum Field Theory, DTW 2016 09/16

• GATIS Closing Workshop 12/16

• WPC Theory Workshop 06/17

• StringMath 2017 07/17

• Tensor Networks from Simulation to Holography 10/17

• String Steilkurs I 04/18

• Women at the intersection of mathematics and theoretical

physics 04/18

• Higgs Bundles in Mathematics and Physics 09/18

• WPC Theoretical Physics Symposium 11/18 11/18

• Tensor Networks from Simulation to Holography 03/19

• First SAGEX school/String Steilkurs II 07/19

• QFT at interface with gravity, DTW 2019 09/19


Science: Scale Invariant Systems


In Quantum Field Theory and Statistical Physics

Scale Invariant Systems I In Statistical and Quantum Field Theory


T ≠ Tc

T = Tc

First example: critical point in phase diagram of water

correlation length diverges CPs tend to be strongly correlated

and hence difficult to approach

Work of Kadanoff and Wilson highlighted special role

of scale invariant statistical & quantum systems.

Fixed points of block spin trafo/renormalization group

Today many examples kown in Ferromagnets, Super-

fluids & Superconductors …

Scale Invariant Systems II

In 1974 Polyakov formulated bootstrap program

that exploits conformal symmetry of many low

energy systems to calculate observables self-

consistently without using theory of high energy

excitations (microscopic theory).

Through recent numerical incarnation, the conformal

bootstrap became remarkable new source of insight

into non-perturbative physics for D > 2.

Most famous example in particle physics is the

conformal window of QCD


Looks for theories with few relevant operators

e.g. 3D Ising model

Very successful in 2D many physics & math applications

from Kos et al.

Superconformal Field TheoriesAdvancing and applying the numerical Bootstrap

Group members pioneered the use of exact results

in the numerical bootstrap to chart out the space of

superconformal field theories.


JHEP 1604.004 JHEP 1704.032 JHEP 1710.119

JHEP 1803.033 PRL 121.141601

CMP 350 no1

JHEP 1701.122

Allowed regions in parameter

space are white

When combined with supersymmetry the world of

conformal field theories becomes particularly rich

Is it possible to chart this world ?

Many of the superQFTs that are studied can not be

located in the space of parameters of a Lagrangian

Mathematics of Conformal Symmetry


``Conformal Fourier Analysis’’ of correlation functions

through decomposition into conformal partial waves

We identified conformal partial waves as wave functions

of exactly solvable interacting multi-particle Schrödinger

problem of Calogero-Sutherland (CS) type.

Study of Calogero-Surtherland models has long history that began

with work of Poeschl andTeller and culminated in the modern theory

of multivariable hypergeometric functions. 1987-today

Exploiting conformal symmetry requires deep insight into the

unknown in 1970ies and only few known until recently

PRL 117.07

JHEP 1703.085 JHEP 1710.119 JHEP 1804.052

JHEP 1807.180 arXiv 1806.09703

Outlook & Summary

Rethinking Quantum Field Theory at the interface between particle physics and mathematics:

Develop & apply modern techniques from String Theory and Mathematical Physics to access

physics of matter and space-time deep in the quantum regime.

Other areas activity:

• Holography and string paradigm for

gauge theory(scattering amplitudes)

• Non-perturbative aspects (dualities)

of supersymmetric gauge theories ..


The WPC Strategy Paper

Status, Oct 15, 2018

Christophe Grojean, Carmen Herrmann, Karl Jansen, Robin Santra,

Volker Schomerus, Guenter Sigl, Michael Thorwart; Kelly Beernaert.

Hamburg, Oct 15, 2018

Status of Theoretical Physics I

Around 350 theoretical physicists in

• 12 institutions including

• three theory departments

• six major research areas


On & off Campus

DESY HET

I ITP II ITP

DESY HET = DESY Theory Group

I ITP – Cond-mat theory of UHH

II ITP – High energy theory of UHH

Status of Theoretical Physics II


Theoretical physics placed under one virtual

roof through inauguration of WPC in 2013;

initial goal to explore common interests and

synergies across different research areas.

Members of DESY T and II ITP are

distributed over different buildings;

I ITP is in center of Hamburg, half-

hour from Campus Bahrenfeld.

Mission Statement for WPC

The WPC is a leading center for theoretical physics that

pursues and promotes highly interdisciplinary research

and research training to address the fundamental

challenges in our understanding of matter, materials and the

universe. Profiting from its unique embedding into a large

scale scientific facility with highly visible experiments and

innovation, the WPC fosters international cooperation and

sustains a vivid dialogue between theory and experiment,

with its partners and with society.


WPC Scientific Pillars


Five interdisciplinary pillars

involving at least 2-3 major

research areas each

Scientific convener for each pillar

Six WPC research areas

(see above) describe the

research within divisions

Reorganized into

Measures I


Offices & co-working spaces for theory departments

Guest scientist program

DESY T & II ITP in main WPC building

I ITP in WPC satellite

Members of institutes united with

state-of-the-art discussion areas

& co-working spaces for partners

• Thematic Institutes to address key

challenges of five scientific pillars.

• Research hotel hosting long term

guests (sabbatical, Humboldt etc.)

and young investigator groups.

• Distinguished guest scientists, i.p.

HH prize for Theoretical Physics

Measures II


Work in progress

Research training

Others

• WPC master courses

• Open student area

• Student organized events

+ existing PhD & Postdoc programs

• Virtual meetings with partners

• Arts/exhibition programme

• Coherent outreach activities

• Award for Female Theorist

3D virtual lecture hall with MPSD

Governance Model


In a picture

WPC Management Board

UHHDESY

Advisory Board

Research

coordinatorScience Conveners

Outlook


Next steps:

• First draft of WPC strategy paper for internal distribution end of Oct 2018

• Presentation of WPC strategy in DESY Stiftungsrat in early Dec 2018

• Evaluation by international panel of theoretical physicists in early 2019

Futher topics:

• National and international partners

• Strategic embedding in DESY/UHH

.

.

.

Mission Statement for WPC

The WPC is a leading center for theoretical physics that

pursues and promotes highly interdisciplinary research

and research training to address the fundamental

challenges in our understanding of matter, materials and the

universe. Profiting from its unique embedding into a large

scale scientific facility with highly visible experiments and

innovation, the WPC fosters international cooperation and

sustains a vivid dialogue between theory and experiment,

with its partners and with society.


string theory and mathematical physics

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