- #1
twistor
- 74
- 8
Does it make sense to study old (stringless) twistor theory nowadays?
Does it make sense to study old (stringless) twistor theory nowadays?
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SUMMARY
The discussion centers on the relevance of studying old twistor theory in light of recent developments in theoretical physics, particularly its connections to twistor string theory and the amplituhedron. Witten's proposals in 2003 and 2004 established a link between string theory and twistor geometry, suggesting that twistor string theory could simplify scattering amplitude calculations. The relationships between twistor theory, supergravity, and loop quantum gravity are acknowledged as significant, with the potential for new insights emerging from these connections.
PREREQUISITES- Understanding of twistor theory and its historical context
- Familiarity with string theory and its fundamental principles
- Knowledge of scattering amplitudes and Feynman diagrams
- Basic concepts of supergravity and loop quantum gravity
- Research Witten's 2003 and 2004 papers on twistor string theory
- Explore the geometric structure of the amplituhedron and its implications
- Investigate the connections between loop quantum gravity and supergravity
- Study the role of supersymmetry (SUSY) in modern theoretical physics
The discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, researchers in quantum gravity, and students interested in the intersections of twistor theory, string theory, and modern physics concepts.
- #2
bapowell
Science Advisor
- 2,243
- 261
Isn't the currently-popular and allegedly promising "Amplituhedron" based on twistor theory?
- #3
twistor
- 74
- 8
The fact is that I don´t know if the amplituhedron is based on twistor theory or on twistor-STRING theory. 
- #4
twistor
- 74
- 8
I got this from Wikipedia, but, you know, the references aren´t enough.
Twistor string theory[edit]
Main article: Twistor string theory
For many years after Penrose's foundational 1967 paper, twistor theory progressed slowly, in part because of mathematical challenges. Twistor theory also seemed unrelated to ideas in mainstream physics. While twistor theory appeared to say something about quantum gravity, its potential contributions to understanding the other fundamental interactions and particle physics were less obvious.
Witten (2003) proposed a connection between string theory and twistor geometry, called twistor string theory. Witten (2004)[2] built on this insight to propose a way to do string theory in twistor space, whose dimensionality is necessarily the same as that of 3+1 Minkowski spacetime. Although Witten has said that "I think twistor string theory is something that only partly works," his work has given new life to the twistor research program. For example, twistor string theory may simplify calculating scattering amplitudes from Feynman diagrams by using a geometric structure called an amplituhedron.
Twistor string theory[edit]
Main article: Twistor string theory
For many years after Penrose's foundational 1967 paper, twistor theory progressed slowly, in part because of mathematical challenges. Twistor theory also seemed unrelated to ideas in mainstream physics. While twistor theory appeared to say something about quantum gravity, its potential contributions to understanding the other fundamental interactions and particle physics were less obvious.
Witten (2003) proposed a connection between string theory and twistor geometry, called twistor string theory. Witten (2004)[2] built on this insight to propose a way to do string theory in twistor space, whose dimensionality is necessarily the same as that of 3+1 Minkowski spacetime. Although Witten has said that "I think twistor string theory is something that only partly works," his work has given new life to the twistor research program. For example, twistor string theory may simplify calculating scattering amplitudes from Feynman diagrams by using a geometric structure called an amplituhedron.
- #5
twistor
- 74
- 8
It was also proposed a conection to supergravity.
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0406051
and to loop quantum gravity
http://arxiv.org/abs/1311.3279 and http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.2120
it seems that you could deform LQG and add extra dimensions and supersymetry. It´s called Loop quantum Supergravity
Seems like something interesting is going to emerge, since string theory and supergravity are related because of SUSY and (of course) because of M-theory
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0406051
and to loop quantum gravity
http://arxiv.org/abs/1311.3279 and http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.2120
it seems that you could deform LQG and add extra dimensions and supersymetry. It´s called Loop quantum Supergravity
Seems like something interesting is going to emerge, since string theory and supergravity are related because of SUSY and (of course) because of M-theory
- #6
MathematicalPhysicist
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 4,662
- 372
Sounds like that they are fixing us a good salad, a little bit of this and a little bit of that, so that no one can understand...
- #7
twistor
- 74
- 8
MathematicalPhysicist said:
Actually, I don't think so. Though it's clear that recent developments have shown us that we have a lot of work to do, I don't thing it's a salad. It seems to me like different aproximations to an underlying thing... (I know it sound a bit like M-theory
).The Relations between LQG and SuSY and string theory in one hand, and between LQG and twistor theory, on the other hand, are, if you want, questionable. However, the relations between Twistors, String theory, the Amplituhedron, SuSy, and SuGra are firmly established, and aren't mere coincidences.
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