Kac-moody symmetries and gauged supergravity
PhD ceremony: Mr. T.A. Nutma, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Thesis: Kac-moody symmetries and gauged supergravity
Promotor(s): prof. E.A. Bergshoeff
Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Symmetry. Not only makes it our world round, but it’s also what makes it go round. From the perfect circular wheels on our bikes and cars that deliver an enjoyable ride, to the error-correction protocols that keep e-mails from turning into junk; it’s literally all around us. It’s also symmetry that dictates the laws of nature. On the small scale the symmetry group of the Standard Model controls the interactions in molecules, atoms, and nuclei. On the large scale gravity is governed by Einstein’s symmetry principle of our space-time.
This thesis deals with a certain class of symmetries known as Kac-Moody algebras. In contrast to the symmetries of the Standard Model and gravity, Kac-Moody algebras are in"nite. they appear in the context of M-theory, an as of yet unknown theory that might both describe the Standard Model and gravity. In this thesis we will show how Kac-Moody algebras unify all the low-energy limits of M-theory, which are known as supergravities. Moreover, the Kac-Moody algebras contain information that corresponds exactly to all the known gauge deformations of these supergravities. We will demonstrate how to obtain the field content of the various gauged supergravities from Kac-Moody algebras, and attempt to relate the equations of motion of both sides to each other.
Last modified: | 13 March 2020 01.15 a.m. |
More news
-
02 July 2024
Start EngD programmes Autonomous Systems and Sustainable Process Design
In September, the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) programmes Autonomous Systems and Sustainable Process Design will start at the Faculty of Scfience and Engineering.
-
25 June 2024
Heineken Young Scientists Award for Casper van der Kooi
For his research in the field of Natural Sciences, Casper van der Kooi will receive the Heineken Young Scientists Award.
-
24 June 2024
Measuring stickiness
Several plant species use tiny sticky droplets to attract and trap insects. These droplets form an ideal toxin-free insecticide that could be easily washed off of edible plants. Abinaya Arunachalam built a tool to measure the stickiness of...