Is String Theory Mathematically Rich and Diverse?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mathematical richness and diversity of string theory, exploring its theoretical foundations, the relationship between mathematics and physics within the field, and the identities of key experts. Participants express curiosity about the topics encompassed by string theory and the distinctions between mathematical and theoretical physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the current state of string theory and its various topics.
  • There is mention of Barton Zwiebach as an expert in string theory, with references to his work as a resource for beginners.
  • One participant suggests that string theory is thriving and posits it as a solution to inconsistencies between general relativity and quantum mechanics.
  • Questions arise regarding the distinction between the mathematics of string theory and string theory itself, with some participants expressing uncertainty about this differentiation.
  • Algebraic geometry, mirror symmetry, and Calabi-Yau manifolds are highlighted as significant mathematical concepts related to string theory.
  • Participants discuss the roles of various experts, including Sergei Gukov and Edward Witten, and debate whether Witten should be categorized as a theoretical physicist or a mathematical physicist.
  • There is a suggestion that most individuals working in quantum gravity are mathematicians, leading to a discussion about the boundaries between theoretical physics and mathematics.
  • One participant raises the point that string theory may not have experimentalists, implying a focus on theoretical work.
  • Questions about the presence of integrable models and representation theory in string theory are also posed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the classification of experts within the fields of mathematics and physics, particularly regarding Edward Witten. There is no consensus on the distinction between mathematical physics and theoretical physics, nor on the presence of experimentalists in string theory.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with string theory and its mathematical aspects, indicating a range of assumptions and interpretations about the field's structure and its experts.

pivoxa15
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How is this field looking?

What topics does it have?

Who are the experts in this field?
 
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pivoxa15 said:
Who are the experts in this field?

Barton Zwiebach at MIT

I am just learning the basics, but from what I can tell ST is thriving and it remains the best solution to the GR-QM inconsistencies.

Check out Zwiebach's A First Course in String Theory if you want the details.
 
ehrenfest said:
Barton Zwiebach at MIT

I am just learning the basics, but from what I can tell ST is thriving and it remains the best solution to the GR-QM inconsistencies.

Check out Zwiebach's A First Course in String Theory if you want the details.

I assume the mathematics of string theory is different to string theory?

For one thing they are done be different communities of people so there's got to be some difference?
 
ehrenfest said:
Barton Zwiebach at MIT

I am just learning the basics, but from what I can tell ST is thriving and it remains the best solution to the GR-QM inconsistencies.

Check out Zwiebach's A First Course in String Theory if you want the details.

I assume the mathematics of string theory is different to string theory?

For one thing they are done by different communities of people so there's got to be some difference?
 
pivoxa15 said:
For one thing they are done by different communities of people so there's got to be some difference?

I've never heard this, but then I don't know what you mean by the mathematics of string theory. I'd be very suprised if a string theorist did not use the "mathematics of string theory" though.
 
Algebraic geometry, mirror symmetry, Calabi-Yau manifolds, generalized geometry, BRST, super-"mathematics" - i.e. mathematics with the anticommutative property

Experts, tons of them. In the math field: Sergei Gukov, Edward Witten (cmon you got to count him), Ron Donagi, David Morrison, etc, etc.
 
cristo said:
I don't know what you mean by the mathematics of string theory.

Pursuing string theory only as a maths theory.

If that doesn't make sense then it would be doing maths that was motivated by string theory.
 
JasonJo said:
Algebraic geometry, mirror symmetry, Calabi-Yau manifolds, generalized geometry, BRST, super-"mathematics" - i.e. mathematics with the anticommutative property

Experts, tons of them. In the math field: Sergei Gukov, Edward Witten (cmon you got to count him), Ron Donagi, David Morrison, etc, etc.

Would Ed Witten be in the physics field?
 
pivoxa15 said:
Would Ed Witten be in the physics field?
But most people working in quantum gravity are mathematicians. It, again, comes down to where you draw this line between theoretical physics and maths-- I don't think one needs to draw the line.
 
  • #10
I think there is a difference between mathematical physics and theoretical physics. Witten is for sure not theoretical physicist, if anything, he is a mathematical physicist.
 
  • #11
timur said:
I think there is a difference between mathematical physics and theoretical physics. Witten is for sure not theoretical physicist, if anything, he is a mathematical physicist.

Ed Witten does physics. Ed Witten does theory. Thus, he's a theorist.
All physicists use math.
 
  • #12
pivoxa15 said:
Pursuing string theory only as a maths theory.

I could be wrong here, but I don't think there are any string theory experimentalists. They're all pretty much theoreticians.
 
  • #13
pivoxa15 said:
Would Ed Witten be in the physics field?

He is a very special case; can you name any physicist that wrote a paper on Geometric Langlands conjecture?
 
  • #14
JasonJo said:
He is a very special case; can you name any physicist that wrote a paper on Geometric Langlands conjecture?

Actually, he is a Fields medalist but no Nobel prize:) so we should put him in the maths camp. Imagine if string theory was connected to nature in a deep way then he would also line up for the nobel prize?

Although what kind of journals does he publish in? Are they more maths or physics journals?
 
  • #15
In this site http://superstringtheory.com/math/math2.html there is no mention of integrable models but string theory is an integrable model?
 
  • #16
How much representation theory is in string theory?
 

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