Introduction to Superstrings, Covariant Quantization and Conformal Theories

• Grant number: 23/12766-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: April 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Fernando David Marmolejo Schmidtt
• Grantee: Julia Carolina Gonçalves
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Despite of its effectivity, the bosonic string theory was shown to be incomplete, since it doesn't account for fermionic particles and has vacuum instability. Both issues are tackled simultaneously in superstring theory. Regarding string quantization, the most straightforward and direct way is through the method of light cone quantization, yet the Lorentz invariance is not apparent in this approach. Therefore, a more refined and robust method is covariant quantization. The strings and superstrings can be quantized over covariance using a Conformal Field Theory (CFT) approach, since String Theory can be defined as a CFT through the Polyakov action. Thegoal of this project is to provide an introduction to superstrings and their covariant quantization in simple scenarios, followed by an introduction to CFT with the intention of delving deeper into both subjects later. In summary, the project aims to complete, refine and apply previous studies carried out by the student on preceding projects (Process 2021/02733-1 and Process 2022/09937-4).