Pure spinor formalism
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: School of Mathematics
Abstract
String theory has been a eld of much interest for a number of years now, providing new insights
into a variety of areas. One particularly useful aspect of string theory is its ability to aid in the
computation of scattering amplitudes; the multitude of Feynman diagrams one has to consider
at each loop level in QFT are dramatically reduced in number in string theory, where you only
have to consider sums over a much smaller number of topologies. From these string results,
eld theory results can be obtained.
into a variety of areas. One particularly useful aspect of string theory is its ability to aid in the
computation of scattering amplitudes; the multitude of Feynman diagrams one has to consider
at each loop level in QFT are dramatically reduced in number in string theory, where you only
have to consider sums over a much smaller number of topologies. From these string results,
eld theory results can be obtained.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Carlos Mafra (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Elliot Bridges (Student) |
Publications
Bridges E
(2019)
Algorithmic construction of SYM multiparticle superfields in the BCJ gauge
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509747/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1943393 | Studentship | EP/N509747/1 | 01/10/2017 | 27/03/2022 | Elliot Bridges |
| Description | Scattering amplitudes describe what happens when particles collide with each other. Working these out is very complicated and involves lots of difficult calculations, but fortunately there are numerous tricks we can use to simplify things. One recent example of such a trick is something called the "double copy", which allows you to write the amplitudes of particularly complicated particles as something like the square of much simpler ones. Doing this requires constructing the simpler amplitudes in a very specific way, related to the field of Lie algebras in mathematics. An amplitude describing n particles interacting is given by a series of calculation of increasingly complicated calculations; the first of which gives most of the answer, then the next gives a little more, and the next less than that, and so on. In the paper I worked on we generalised a previous method to find the first stage of the certain amplitudes in a double copy appropriate way, and proved mathematically a few results along the way. We also explained some of where the ability to use this double copy trick comes from. I am now working on something similar for the calculations at the next stage of complexity |
| Exploitation Route | This work is on fundamental physics, its use is in academic settings. It is particularly useful to others working on scattering amplitudes and on string theory, but there are also implications for people working on gravity, and some results may be of interest for pure mathematicians |
| Sectors | Education,Other |
| Description | Algorithmic construction of SYM multiparticle superfields in the BCJ gauge |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My supervisor and I work together. This work is a large percentage of all of the work I do |
| Collaborator Contribution | My collaborator is my PhD supervisor, they were very involved too in all of the work on this project |
| Impact | We have one paper so far, "Algorithmic construction of SYM multiparticle superfields in the BCJ gauge", and work on another project has begun and results have been found |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Class for school children before annual public lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Before the annual public lecture in Southampton there is a class for school children from the region on the material that's going to be talked about. I've helped run this the past two years |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | Poster presented to public |
| 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 | I presented a poster of my area to members of the public at a general showcase of posters from postgraduate students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Short article in school magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | There was a short piece about me in my former high school's magazine |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |