Supersymmetry, Supergravity, and Strings

Brandeis University, Waltham MA

Investigators

Abstract

The purpose of this research in the area of theoretical particle physics is to study aspects of supersymmetry and supergravity, which are main ingredients in the description and analysis of superstring theory. Superstring theory is the major candidate theory for the study of the fundamental constituents of matter as well as the unification of all the forces between them, including gravity. The viability of superstring theory depends crucially on the existence of supersymmetry, a concept that tells us that at some fundamental level elementary particles, though superficially distinct in their properties, share an underlying identity which allows them to be considered as different facets of a single entity. By studying supersymmetric theories, of which supergravity is the one relevant for string theory, we learn how to analyze it and how to perform calculations and gain information which ultimately will allow us to confirm that with this beautiful theory we have indeed reached the goal of understanding how Nature works at the most basic level.