ENRAGE · European Network on Random Geometry
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2005-09-01 → 2009-08-31
- EU contribution
- €2,930,727
- Participants
- 13
- 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 - ENRAGE (European Network on Random Geometry)
Progress in sciences is driven by the urge to push the limits of our understanding of the physical world. The unprecedented advances of the last century led to a collective search, by theoretical physicists, for the most fundamental building blocks of space, time and matter, as well as for a unified description of their interactions. In our effort to formulate a quantum theory of physics at the most extreme scales, there is mounting evidence that special, so-called non-perturbative, methods are necessary. These must take into account that space-time at the Planck scale is not well approximated by the fixed flat Minkowski space which provides the setting for standard quantum field theory at much lower energies. The geometry of space-time itself takes part dynamically and must be treated in a manner consistent with both quantum theory and general relativity. The research undertaken by the ENRAGE collaboration made significant strides towards constructing a non-perturbative, background-independent theory of quantum gravity using a combination of analytic and numerical tools from the theory of discrete random geometries and based on the so-called causal dynamical triangulations. Using these methods, it was possible for the first time to derive a classical, four-dimensional universe, starting from the microscopic quantum dynamics of sub-Planckian constituents of space-time alone. This dynamically generated universe had the shape of a de Sitter space, a well-known solution to the classical Einstein equations in the presence of a cosmological constant, i.e. dark energy. The same powerful methods, involving random geometry and random matrices, were used by network researchers to address an amazing variety of problems in various dimensions, such as one-dimensional random networks, graphs and trees, two-dimensional surfaces, e.g. string world sheets and membranes, and higher-dimensional geometries as they appeared, for example, in quantum gravity. We also successfully applied them in statistical mechanics and field theory, lattice quantum chromo-dynamics, pure mathematics, i.e. combinatorics and enumeration problems, econophysics and selected aspects of biology. A key towards the success was the smooth interplay between analytical methods on the one hand and computational Monte Carlo simulations on the other.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The Royal Road of theoretical Physics, the search for a unified quantum theory of space, time and matter, has led to a point where non-perturbative and background-independent methods are essential if the journey is to be completed. The further development of such methods, analytic and numerical techniques of random geometry and random matrices, and their application to this central goal, is the overarching scientific objective of this proposal. More specific objectives include the construction of a four-dimensional quantum space-time and the recovery of classical space-time in a continuum limit, and the elucidation of the fundamental formulation of string theory as a matrix model.This forms the context for a program of networking in which the training and nurturing of the most talented young scientists attracted by the fundamental nature of the research, is the core activity and the major objective of the proposal. Specific objectives include the transfer of expertise in the highly versatile tools of random geometry across East-West boundaries, further development of internationally completive research activity at the Krakow site, transfer of knowledge from pure to applied topics such as networks and biology, retention in an attraction to Europe of the most creative young scientists and the training of young researchers in transferable research skills of the highest intellectual and technical level as preparation for research careers in- en outside academia.The heart of the network program is the series of three conference/workshops showcasing young researchers' work, two major network schools and five intensive topical schools. These, together with the program of long-term secondments for postdoctoral workers, collaborative visits and a student communication network will be the instruments by which the objectives will be achieved.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UTRECHT UNIVERSITY · UTRECHTCoordinatorNetherlands
- COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE · GIF SUR YVETTEFrance
- HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY · EDINBURGHUnited Kingdom
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE · LONDONUnited Kingdom
- JAGELLONIAN UNIVERSITY KRAKOW · KRAKÓWCity levelPoland
- NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 'DEMOKRITOS' · ATHENSGreece
- RAUNVISINDASTOFNUN HÁSKÓLANS · REYKJAVIKCity levelIceland
- THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD · OXFORDUnited Kingdom
- UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA · BARCELONASpain
- UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN · KOEPENHAGENDenmark
- UNIVERSITÄT LEIPZIG · LEIPZIGCity levelGermany
- UNIVERSITÉ PARIS-SUD (XI) · ORSAYCity levelFrance
- Universität Bielefeld · BielefeldGermany
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union