Quantum Fields and Strings

Quantum field theory was originally developed as the extension of quantum mechanics needed to accommodate the principles of special relativity. Today quantum field theory is the modern paradigm with which we understand particle physics, condensed matter systems, and many aspects of early universe cosmology, and it is used to describe the interactions of elementary particles, the dynamics of many body systems and critical phenomena, all with exquisite accuracy. Currently, Perimeter researchers are producing world-leading advances in the study of integrability and scattering amplitudes in quantum field theories. String theory is a theoretical framework which was proposed to produce a unified description of all particles and forces in nature, including gravity. It is based on the idea that at very short distances, all particles should in fact be seen to be extended one-dimensional objects, i.e., ‘strings.’ Modern string theory has grown to be a broad and varied field of research with strong connections to quantum gravity, particle physics and cosmology, as well as mathematics. An exciting new framework known as ‘holography’ has emerged from string theory whereby quantum gravity is formulated in terms of quantum field theory in one less dimension. This symbiosis between quantum field theory and quantum gravity has been a focus of many Perimeter researchers. This has led to the development of exciting new methods to study the quantum dynamics of gauge theories and in the application of these techniques to new domains, such as nuclear physics and condensed matter physics