Project Details
The study of cosmological aspects of flux compacitifications in string theory
Applicant
Dr. Timm Wrase
Subject Area
Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
Term
from 2010 to 2014
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 170458581
To describe our universe theoretical physicists use two theories: general relativity that describes gravity and the Standard Model that describes the fundamental building blocks of matter and also their non-gravitational interactions. Virtually all phenomena and observations made so far can be ascribed to those two theories but it is nevertheless clear that there has to exist a more fundamental theory which in particular explains the early stages and the beginning of the universe. For that we need a theory of quantum gravity that describes gravity at very high energies at which general relativity is no longer applicable. A very promising candidate for this is string theory, which does not only contain general relativity but presumably also the Standard Model. Thus, it has the potential to unify those two theories. The objective of the proposed research project is to examine cosmological aspects within the context of string theory. The goal is the construction of completely explicit models in string theory that are consistent with cosmological observations and describe today s accelerated expansion of the universe together with a period of ination (exponential expansion) shortly after the big bang.
DFG Programme
Research Fellowships
International Connection
USA