Particle and Quantum Field Theory Investigations

New York University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

The proposed research involves research in Particle, Fields and Strings. We propose to continue investigating some of the most fundamental questions concerning quantum gravity. The first is the smallness of the vacuum energy. The second is why the vacuum and matter energy densities are comparable today. We are exploring new theories in which General Relativity is modified at very large distances in such a way that the gravitational coupling is wavelength dependent. We propose to study "brane world models" perturbative string theory and quantum gravity. We will also study Anti-de Sitter Conformal Field Theory holography to study fundamental questions of quantum gravity. One question is whether quantum evolutions in the presence of gravity remain unitarity. We are proposing a novel approach to renormalize the electroweak sector of the standard model for use in understanding radiative corrections. We will also perform an updated analysis of neutron beta decay because of new experiments on electron asymmetry in the decay of polarized neutrons.