String Theory and Supersymmetry

In summary, the conversation discusses the role of supersymmetry in string theory and its potential for falsification at the Planck scale. The authors mention that while low scale SUSY is a way to keep scalars light, the non-observation of SUSY at the LHC does not rule out string theory. However, if experiments were conducted at the Planck scale and no SUSY was found, it could potentially falsify string theory.
  • #1
atyy
Science Advisor
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Cargese lectures on string theory with eight supercharges
Monica Guica, Andrew Strominger
http://arxiv.org/abs/0704.3295

The authors state "Ultimately the most interesting and most physically relevant case is no supersymmetry at all. But at the moment analytic control in this case is quite limited."

Does this mean that string theory could work without supersymmetry? How about AdS/CFT?
 
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  • #2
String theory needs susy at the Planck scale. Low scale SUSY is just a nice way to keep scalars light.

Put another way, non-observation of SUSY at LHC could not rule out string theory.
 
  • #3
BenTheMan said:
String theory needs susy at the Planck scale. Low scale SUSY is just a nice way to keep scalars light.

Put another way, non-observation of SUSY at LHC could not rule out string theory.

Is there an energy above which if we don't find supersymmetry, then string theory will be falsified? ie. Is string theory falsifiable at least in principle?
 
  • #4
The Planck scale.
 
  • #5
So if I did lots of experiments at 10^29 eV and didn't find supersymmetry, string theory would be false?
 
  • #6
Yes. If you were able to do experiments at that energy, string theory (as far as I know) would definitely be falsifiable.
 

1. What is String Theory?

String Theory is a theoretical framework in physics that attempts to explain the fundamental nature of particles and their interactions. It proposes that particles are not point-like objects, but rather tiny strings vibrating at different frequencies. This theory also attempts to unify gravity with the other three fundamental forces of nature.

2. What is Supersymmetry?

Supersymmetry is a proposed extension of the standard model of particle physics. It suggests that each known particle has a "superpartner" with similar properties, but with a different spin. This theory also provides a solution to the hierarchy problem, which addresses the large discrepancy between the predicted and observed mass of the Higgs boson.

3. How are String Theory and Supersymmetry related?

String Theory and Supersymmetry are closely related as they both aim to provide a unified theory of all fundamental forces and particles. Supersymmetry is a necessary component of String Theory, as it helps to address certain inconsistencies and limitations of the theory. However, not all versions of String Theory incorporate Supersymmetry.

4. Is there any experimental evidence for String Theory and Supersymmetry?

Currently, there is no direct experimental evidence for String Theory or Supersymmetry. However, there are some indirect pieces of evidence that support the validity of these theories. For example, Supersymmetry predicts the existence of particles that could potentially solve the mystery of dark matter, and String Theory has provided solutions to certain mathematical problems in physics.

5. What are the criticisms of String Theory and Supersymmetry?

One of the main criticisms of String Theory is that it is a highly complex and mathematically challenging theory, making it difficult to test experimentally. Additionally, there are many different versions of String Theory, and it is unclear which, if any, accurately describes our universe. As for Supersymmetry, critics argue that there is still no direct evidence for its existence and that it may require unrealistic energy levels to be observed in experiments.

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