Project Details
Application of string theory to cosmology and black hole physics
Applicant
Professor Dr. Viatcheslav Mukhanov
Subject Area
Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
Term
from 2002 to 2006
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5371140
De Sitter space plays an important role in cosmology, in particular, in models describing inflation. Moreover, recent astronomical observations indicate that our Universe has a small, but non-zero, positive cosmological constant and thus can again be approximated asymptotically by de Sitter space-time. In order to reconcile this experimental fact with our understanding of the microscopic theory of gravity it is therefore important to understand how de Sitter space fits in the existing fundamental theories of quantum gravity, string theory or M-theory. In this project we propose to study this problem in detail and find a consistent description of de Sitter space-time in quantum gravity and string theory. Furthermore, we suggest to investigate the implications of quantum gravity on de Sitter space to the problem of the internal structure of black holes and the resolution of curvature singularities.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes