Conferences  >  Physics  >  High Energy Physics, Particles and Fields  >  United States

Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP)

While it is widely acknowledged that string theory provides a framework for addressing quantum gravitational (and even quantum field theoretic) questions, the precise nature of its organizational principle remains obscure. Nearly three decades ago, when the question “What is string theory?” was asked, the perturbative string worldsheet viewpoint played the starring role. Since then, the discovery of D-branes, string dualities, and the holographic AdS/CFT correspondence has had spacetime dynamics taking center-stage. Much insight has been gleaned from these developments. We now have, for example, a much broader class of string backgrounds with better control over compactifications; strong constraints on the low energy effective field theories; a plethora of gauge-string dualities as well as applications of holographic techniques to a wide class of physical problems; and new angles on semiclassical gravitational physics from a fruitful interplay with quantum information in holography. Together with an influx of new tools and techniques, we have a very rich set of perspectives that illuminate the subject we continue to call string theory. While all these developments are interesting in and of themselves, it is an opportune moment to attempt to synthesize these, often disparate, strands and arrive at a deeper answer to the question in the title.

Mathematical Physics,    Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

University of Tennessee

Introductory course on particle physics at undergraduate level. The course will delivered on digital white board in ten lectures.

Email: ibm.lhcms@gmail.com

Standard Model

The 2024 International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Applications of Accelerators is being organized jointly by Jefferson Lab and Accelerator Applications Division (AAD) of the American Nuclear Society (ANS). This event is co-sponsored by the DOE Office of Radiological Security (ORS), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and other organizations.

Nuclear Physics,    Particle Accelerators

UC Santa Barbara, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP)

String theory encompasses a wide range of perspectives on the nature of spacetime, from qubit models of black hole information to the string worldsheet. This conference will aim for a new synthesis of the field that builds on recent progress on the role of quantum information, new top-down techniques in string compactification and string field theory, and growing evidence for precise holographic dualities beyond anti-de Sitter space. The focus will be on bridging the divide between the IR and the UV. We will explore recent progress in non-perturbative string theory and stringy constraints on effective field theory, and develop the connections between the gravitational path integral, higher topologies, and entanglement, from low energy to the string scale.

The international conference Loops ‘24 is the most recent in a long tradition of biennial meetings focused on loop quantum gravity and background independent approaches to quantum gravity. The conference will be held from Monday, May 6 through Friday, May 10, 2024, at the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA). The program will feature morning plenary talks complemented by contributed talks. Plenary sessions will be held in the auditorium of the Broward County Main Library one block away from the campus. The conference will highlight recent developments in canonical loop quantum gravity, covariant loop quantum gravity (spin foams), and other approaches to quantum gravity, as well as applications to symmetry-reduced models, quantum cosmology, black holes in quantum gravity, and other topics. Foundational, mathematical, numerical and phenomenological aspects will be covered.

Gravitation and Cosmology

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology,    Mathematical Physics

UC Santa Barbara, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics

Over the past ten years tremendous progress has been achieved in quantum field theory thanks to the realization that symmetries can be interpreted in terms of the action of topological defects on the space of operators. This gives a generalization of the notion of symmetries, explicitly realized in many instances exploiting Lagrangian field theory techniques, uncovering a rich and unexpected landscape of physical effects in condensed matter, high energy physics, and quantum gravity. This conference will bring together the major experts in the subject, and strives to be an opportunity for participants to quickly get up to speed with the most recent advances and open problems in the field.

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology,    Condensed Matter Physics and Materials