Elementary Particles and Fields and String Theory Commons^™

Boundary Conditions, Symmetries, And Bootstrap In 2d Conformal Field Theory, Yucong Cai

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation contains two parts of study on the Friedan states and on the conformal bootstrap with symmetries.

The Friedan states are potential physical boundary states of the free boson. However, they exhibited a continuous spectrum in the open string sector, in contrast to more standard examples. The explicit expressions for the density of states of the Friedan states is obtained. Some pathologies and possible contradictions of these states are explored. The $g$ functions of the Friedan states are shown to be infinite, suggesting an infinite number of degrees of freedom in the theory.

The modular conformal bootstrap using the …

Integrable Deformations, T-Dualities And Higher Order Corrections In String Theory, Parita Shah

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This thesis explores the interplay of hidden symmetries and dualities in string theory, with a particular emphasis on the role of T-duality. As a fundamental symmetry of string theory, T-duality offers a powerful lens through which one can study integrability, solution-generating techniques, and quantum corrections, all essential aspects of modern string theoretic frameworks.

A central focus of this work is the application of the duality covariant formalism of Double Field Theory (DFT) to address problems involving integrable deformations and higher-order quantum corrections. We examine how generalized integrable models can be embedded into DFT and how the formalism captures hidden symmetries …

Supergravity Backgrounds For Deformations Of Adsn×Sn Supercoset String Models, Oleg Lunin, Radu Roiban, Arkady Tseytlin

Physics Faculty Scholarship

We consider type IIB supergravity backgrounds corresponding to the deformed AdS_n x S^n supercoset string models of the type constructed in arXiv:1309.5850 which depend on one deformation parameter k. In AdS_2 x S^2 case we find that the deformed metric can be extended to a full supergravity solution with non-trivial dilaton, RR scalar and RR 5-form strength. The solution depends on a free parameter (called a) that should be chosen as a particular function of k to correspond to the deformed supercoset model. In AdS_3 x S^3 case the full solution supported by the dilaton, RR scalar and RR 3-form …

Physics: Rethinking The Foundations, Kevin H. Knuth

Physics Faculty Scholarship

Physics is traditionally conceived of as a set of laws that universally governs the behavior of physical systems. These laws, however they are decreed, are believed to govern the behavior of not only everything in the universe, but the form of the universe itself. However, this traditional concept of physics as a universal governance is at odds with our modern theories of quantum mechanics and relativity, which place the observer and information in a central role. In this talk, I aim to rethink the foundations and attempt to build physics from the bottom up based on a very simple foundational …

Information-Based Physics: An Intelligent Embedded Agent's Guide To The Universe, Kevin H. Knuth

Physics Faculty Scholarship

In this talk, I propose an approach to understanding the foundations of physics by considering the optimal inferences an intelligent agent can make about the universe in which he or she is embedded. Information acts to constrain an agent’s beliefs. However, at a fundamental level, any information is obtained from interactions where something influences something else. Given this, the laws of physics must be constrained by both the nature of such influences and the rules by which we can make inferences based on information about these influences. I will review the recent progress we have made in this direction. This …