Menu
MapConnectionsTopicsBulgariaThe Night (K-TRIO)Marie Skłodowska-CurieFor studentsFor teachersMethodologySurprise me
FP6Doctoral network2004–2008

FORCESUNIVERSE · Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe

FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)

Duration
2004-12-02 → 2008-12-02
EU contribution
€3,061,845
Participants
26
Scheme
RTN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.

Results in brief

Final Activity Report Summary - FORCESUNIVERSE (Constituents, fundamental forces and symmetries of the universe)

Members of the network made substantial progress in the understanding of the fundamental constituents of matter and their interactions. New symmetry structures were discovered and discussed. In particular, it was shown that the strong gauge interactions among quark like particles can be equivalently described by gravitational interactions in spaces, where one space dimension is added. This is the holographic principle, which states that many aspects of our worlds can be projected down from a theory in higher dimensions. This happens to be true in string theory, and hence string theory as a unified theory of all matter and interactions was investigated. String theory is a theory in ten space-time dimensions. It was shown that in string theory together with new membrane-like objects and by curling up six extra dimensions many features of our world like the existence of quarks and electrons and their interactions can be obtained (the standard model of particle physics). In addition it was discussed how string theory can possibly describe the physics of the early universe just after the Big Bang. In all considerations, the symmetry concept of supersymmetry and supergravity played a key role. It is hoped that supersymmetry can be discovered at the LHC collider machine at CERN during the next years. Furthermore, one even hopes to see some traces of strings at the LHC. These topics were also considered my members of this network. Finally, new quantum aspects of black holes were discovered.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The network aims to gain further insights into the fundamental structure of the universe, namely its basic constituents, the forces mutually acting on them and the symmetries which underlie its theoretical description. We are planning to attack some of the main unsolved issues in gauge theories, supergravity theories, string theory and M-theory, where we hope to make substantial progress by combining and focusing the various expertise and research interests that are present in the participating teams. The research objectives will span the following range of topics: investigation of the basic constituents of string and M-theory, in particular the dynamics and stability problems of membranes and D-branes; the fundamental symmetries of M-theory and string theory; supergravity and gauge interactions; the derivation of the Standard Model of particle physics from string and M-theory compactifications; finally the relation between strings, branes, cosmology and black holes. The network brings together a large number of European groups that work on the forefront of developing a unified description of all matter and interactions. It combines the complementary expertise of several leading research groups in theoretical and mathematical particle physics in Europe in a very unique way. Therefore we regard ourselves not only as a network in one particular field, e.g. such as superstring theory, but our network shows a very high degree of multidisciplinarity, especially as regards the very close relation between modern mathematics and theoretical particle physics. It is the aim of our network to provide to our young researchers a stimulating and active research and training environment. The common training programme contains among other components the organization of schools and workshops specially adapted to young researchers and the creation of several working groups, which will ensure that all topics will be brought together in a coherent way.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHENCoordinatorCity levelUnknown Region
  • CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE · PARISFrance
  • CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MADRIDSpain
  • EIDGENOSSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZURICH · ZURICHCity levelSwitzerland
  • GRONINGEN UNIVERSITY · GRONINGENCity levelNetherlands
  • IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE · LONDONUnited Kingdom
  • INSTITUT DES HAUTES ETUDES SCIENTIFIQUE · BURES-SUR-YVETTECity levelFrance
  • INSTITUTE FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH AND NUCLEAR ENERGY OF THE BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES · SOFIACity levelBulgaria
  • ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEARE · FRASCATIItaly
  • KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN · LEUVENBelgium
  • Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften eV · MÜNCHENGermany
  • NORDISK INSTITUT FOR TEORETISK FYSIK · COPENHAGENCity levelDenmark
  • Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn · BONNGermany
  • SCIENCE INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND · REYKJAVIKCity levelIceland
  • THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, NEAR DUBLIN (HEREINAFTER CALLED TCD) · DUBLINCity levelIreland
  • THE UNIVERSITY EDINBURGH · EDINBURGHCity levelUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA · PADOVAItaly
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO · TORINOItaly
  • UNIVERSITE DE NEUCHATEL · NEUCHATELSwitzerland
  • UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT · UTRECHTNetherlands
  • UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN · KOEPENHAGENDenmark
  • UNIVERSITY OF CRAIOVA · CRAIOVACity levelRomania
  • UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO-BICOCCA · MILANOItaly
  • Universidad de Barcelona · BarcelonaSpain
  • University of Patras · PATRASGreece
  • VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL · BRUXELLESBelgium

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union