New Geometric Structures from String Theory

Lead Research Organisation: Imperial College London
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

Our proposed research is aimed towards discovering the mathematical structures underpinning the fundamental nature of matter, the origins of the universe and the quantum structure of spacetime each of which would be a revolution in science, with possible consequences as far-reaching as they were when matter was shown to be composed of atoms. Just as differential geometry was vital for Einstein's theory of gravity, the mathematics we are investigating could be an essential part of a revolution the formulation of string theory, with possible far-reaching consequences. Theoretical physics has long been central in motivating vital new directions in geometry. Recent research in string theory points to the existence of a rich class of remarkable new geometrical structures. The aim of the research is to develop the underlying unifying mathematics of these structures, laying the foundations for new areas of geometric study using tools and ideas from string theory and gauge theory. It is rare to find a new type of geometry that is both beautiful and tractable. Generalized geometry, introduced by Hitchin, is one such new example, and like others is strongly linked with ideas from physics. The overarching focus of our proposal will be the much larger set of ideas of which this is part, including extended geometries, doubled geometries, flux geometries, non-geometric spaces and holographic structures. We anticipate wide ranging applications across mathematical sciences from geometry and topology to algebra and number theory and mathematical physics.

Planned Impact

The project is blue skies research in mathematics. As such, the social and economic impact of the research is less immediate and direct than in more applied areas.
Our work will have a significant impact on geometry and topology. There will be important applications to string theory, gauge theory and other areas of mathematical physics. We will bring our work to these communities through talks and articles. We will hold two workshops on the subject of this proposal, and one of the aims of these will be to assess and develop the impact and applications of our work to pure mathematics and to physics.

Fundamental scientific breakthroughs lead to technological advance and cultural transformation. Our proposed research is aimed towards discovering the mathematical structures underpinning fundamental physics. Just as differential geometry was vital for Einstein's theory of gravity, our research could be an essential part of a revolution in science, with possible far-reaching consequences. The timescales for this kind of foundational new knowledge about space, time and matter to translate into technological developments are unpredictable and can be long.

Two aspects of the impact of the research are certain. One is progress on the integration of science into culture, which inspires and attracts people, and by our outreach activities will directly benefit society by educating the public, creating the widest possible base of support for science and motivating young people to study science. Members of the team have given popular talks and appeared in the media. We will aim to identify and exploit opportunities to bring the work of our proposal to the public, through public talks and publications.

The second route to impact is through the direct training of young people, PhD students and RAs in advanced mathematical methods and problem solving, developing independence and creativity. The positive impact on the economy is the supply of highly trained individuals with the skills to contribute at the highest level to modern business and industry.

Publications

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Abou-Zeid M (2019) T-duality in (2, 1) superspace in Journal of High Energy Physics

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Agarwal P (2015) Quiver tails and N = 1 $$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$ SCFTs from M5-branes in Journal of High Energy Physics

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Anderson L (2017) More large N limits of 3d gauge theories in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical

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Anderson L (2019) Mass deformed ABJM and $$ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $$ symmetry in Journal of High Energy Physics

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Andriolo S (2019) Compact G2 holonomy spaces from SU(3) structures in Journal of High Energy Physics

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Arav I (2019) Spatially modulated and supersymmetric deformations of ABJM theory in Journal of High Energy Physics

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Arvanitakis A (2018) The Exceptional Sigma Model

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Arvanitakis A (2019) Brane Wess-Zumino terms from AKSZ and exceptional generalised geometry as an $L_\infty$-algebroid in Advances in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

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Arvanitakis A (2019) Chiral strings, topological branes, and a generalised Weyl-invariance in International Journal of Modern Physics A

 
Description Many technical results on the geometric and algebraic structures underpinning string theory
Exploitation Route It will form the basis of further international research
Sectors Other

 
Description Imperial Faculty of Natural Science 2014-2017
Amount £20,000 (GBP)
Funding ID PHTHP53970 
Organisation Imperial College London 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2014 
End 09/2017
 
Description STFC Consolidated Grant 2014-2017
Amount £1,527,915 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/L00044X/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2014 
End 09/2017
 
Description STFC Consolidated Grant 2017-2020
Amount £1,917,759 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/P000762/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2017 
End 09/2020
 
Description Appeared on Channel 4 News talking about the EHTs announcement of an image of a black hole, April 10 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Tv interview
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Appeared on Talk 2 Me Radio on gravity waves 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interviewed about gravity waves
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Discourse at the Royal Institution, Sep 29 2017. Talk title ``Black holes and the fundamental laws of physics". 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This was a talk in a major series of outreach talks held by the Royal Institution. They made a video which currently has 185k views on YouTube
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laKp1XeEF74
 
Description Disntinguished Alumni Speaker Series UWA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk to broad range of alumni. Much discussion
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Kings College School, Wimbledon, Mar 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 60 pupils attended talk on Higgs boson, Q&A after

Education
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Media interview Oc 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interviewed for an article in International Business Times
about time travel for Back to the future day Oct 19 2015
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Organised Stephen Hawking Talk at Imperial College 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Organised Stephen Hawking talk at IMperial. 800 people in attendance, over 30,000 people applies for tickets. There was various socal media events associated with this. Directly lead to donations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Outreach Leader for School Visits to Imperial College 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 5 half-day visits from primary and secondary schools to Imperial College London where I led workshops on physics in general with particular focus on my research, area which sparked questions and discussions from, and amongst, the students. These visits were particularly aimed at students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016,2017
 
Description Public talk at KIAS, Seoul, Korea, ``A Brief History of the Science of Stephen Hawking'', Mar 29 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public talk in Seoul - enomrous interest in topic and many questions afterwards
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Radio interview Jan 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Appeared on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire talking about my involvement in the ``Theory of Everything" Jan 16 2015
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Radio interview Nov 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interviewed for Radio Wolfgang about time travel Nov 3 2015
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://www.radiowolfgang.com/s/scienceish/the-time-machine
 
Description School Talk (London) Sep 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Talk ``Black Holes, Strings and Superconductors''
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description School Visit (Richard Atkins primary school) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Visit with 3 other members of the research group to a science fair organised by Richard Atkins primary school with about 10 participating primary schools in south London. Students showcased their science projects and we engaged in discussions and served as judges for choosing the top project in each year group. We also gave talks about research in general, and our research in particular, to each age group.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description School talk Kings Mar 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact School talk - enormous interest
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk at ScienceMuseum Lates, Jan 2015. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk ``A Brief History of the Science of Stephen Hawking'' at
ScienceMuseum Lates, 28 Jan 2015. Three talks to 120 people each. Very enthusiastic response
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Talk at Arts Club Nov 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Arts Club event "Ecosystems and Risk in Finance" with Lord Robert May, Nov 20 2014
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Talk at Arts Club Oct 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Arts Club event "Contemporary Sculpture and Theoretical Physics" with David Berman and Grenville Davey
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Talk at Imperial College Nov 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk ``Black Holes and the Unity of Physics'',
part of the Celebration of the Centenary of General Relativity
held at Imperial on Nov 23 2015. About 800 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLqBp0YC7tI
 
Description Talk at Kings College School Wimbledon 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Talk on gravity waves to about 60 people. Many discussions after.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Talk at NBC studios ``A Brief History of the Science of Stephen Hawking" Dec 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk at NBC studios on ``A Brief History of the Science of Stephen Hawking'', preceding screening for the film \
``The Theory of Everything'' Dec 2014.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Talk at St Pauls Girls School 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 50 Girls discussed black holes and quantum gravity following talk
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Talk at the Imperial College Fringe Feb 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk ``A Brief History of the Science of Stephen Hawking'' at theImperial Fringe
before a screening of the ``Theory of Everything'',
Imperial College, 19 Feb 2015. Very ntusiastic reponse
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Talk at the Royal Institution 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Takl on Gravity waves to 70 people. They loved it.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Talk for British Science Association Cambridgeshire branch SciScreen event Jan 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk "A Brief History of the Science of Stephen Hawking"
preceding a screening for the film ``The Theory of Everything'". It was a
British Science Association Cambridgeshire branch SciScreen event, Arts Picture House,
Cambridge, Jan 19 2015
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Talk for Mass Interaction 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Discussion on the Beauty of Black Holes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Talk: A Brief History of the Science of Stephen Hawking, at the ICE Summer Festival, Madingley Hall, Camrbdidge,Jul 9 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 200 people attended the talk prior to a screening of the Oscar winning film "The Theory of Everything"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Talk: Black Holes and the Fundamental Laws of Physics, at Kings College School Wimbledon, Nov 7 2017. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Popular talk on black holes to 6th Form students
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Theoretical Physics consultant for Empire magazine on a graphic for the film ``The Theory of Everything'' Sep 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Made people want to see film
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Theoretical physics consultant for the film ``The Theory of Everything'' 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Film promotes discussion on theoretical physics

People think more about theoretical physics
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Youtube Channel Scientia Egregia 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Lectures on theoretical physics given in livestreams on Youtube. Viewed on average by 10000 people. Total views >100000 hours.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018,2019,2020,2021,2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQFaJoQu0TP7je5HchCNjHA