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Oberlin College

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.

Teilchenphysik und Felder,    Astronomie, Astrophysik und Kosmologie

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

Astronomie, Astrophysik und Kosmologie,    Teilchenphysik und Felder