Niels Bohr Lecture by Cumrun Vafa, Harvard University
String Theory and Our Universe
Abstract: In this talk I provide an executive summary of some of the recent progress that has been made in understanding some key features of quantum gravitational theories. This is rooted in lessons learned from the landscape of consistent solutions to string theory and captured by the principles of the Swampland program.
A key feature of this is the lack of decoupling between short and long distance descriptions of the theory leading to a radical revision of the notion of consistency of effective field theories.
This opens up a new window into unresolved fine tuning problems for particle physics and cosmology. I will further explain how these ideas lead to concrete experimentally verifiable predictions for our universe.
Biography:
Cumrun Vafa is the Hollis Professor of Mathematicks and Natural Philosophy and the Chair of the Physics Department at Harvard University, where he does research and teaches theoretical physics since 1985. Born in Iran in 1960, he moved to the US for higher education where he received his B.S. in math and physics from MIT before moving to Princeton University, where he received his Ph.D. in theoretical physics.
- Professor Vafa is world-renowned for his groundbreaking work in string theory and the mathematical technology needed to explore this field.
- He is one of the founders of the duality revolution in string theory which has reshaped our understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe.
- He has uncovered mysteries of black holes using topological aspects of string theory and is the founder of `F-theory’ which is one of the most promising directions in connecting string theory solutions known as the `string landscape’ to particle physics.
- His ideas related to apparently consistent, but ultimately inconsistent, theories of quantum gravity which he initiated in the `swampland’ project has helped narrow down the vast string landscape and is currently an active area of research with impact on cosmology, as well as particle phenomenology.
Professor Vafa has received numerous prizes and recognitions for his work on theoretical physics including the 2021 Mustafa prize, the 2017 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, the 2008 Dirac Medal of ICTP and prizes for his work on mathematical physics from American Mathematical Society, as well as American Physical Society. He is a member of National Academy of Sciences as well as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Niels Bohr Lectures er en engelsk-sproget foredragsrække på Niels Bohr Institutet med kendte forskere fra hele verden.
Foredragene holdes cirka 10 gange om året og er offentlige. De er for studerende og ansatte ved Niels Bohr Institutet samt andre med interesse for at høre om videnskabelig forskning i verdensklasse. Foredragene holdes på et ikke-teknisk niveau, hvor de kan forstås af alle med en baggrundsviden, der svarer til de første år på fysikstudiet.
Tidspunkt og sted: Hvis intet andet er anført, finder foredragene sted kl. 16.15 i Auditorium 3 på H.C. Ørsted Institutet, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 København Ø. Kaffe og kage serveres en halv time inden foredraget starter.
What, where and when?
The lectures are public and held about 10 times a year. The lectures are for students and staff at the Niels Bohr Institute and others interested in worldwide scientific research. The lectures are held on a non-technical level where they can be understood by anyone with a background similar to the first year of physics study.
Time and place: Unless otherwise specified, the lectures take place at. 16.15 in Auditorium 3 at H.C. Ørsted Institute, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen Ø. Coffee and cake will be served half an hour before the lecture starts.