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School of Physical and Chemical Sciences

Combinatorics and representation theory in gauge-string duality

Research Group: Centre for Research in String Theory
Number of Students: 2
Length of Study in Years: 3
Full-time Project: yes

Funding

STFC, QMUL Scholarship, Other

Project Description

Symmetric groups and their group algebras, along with concepts in representation theory including Schur-Weyl duality, have been applied to the study of half-BPS states in N=4 SYM theory, in particular to clarify the holographic map of the AdS/CFT correspondence. These algebraic techniques have also been used in characterizing less supersymmetric states (e.g. quarter and eighth BPS states) and in problems of counting and correlators for random tensor models.  Some recent directions  are:

  1. The development of permutation invariant matrix models, exploiting links to partition algebras;
  2. Group theoretic computational algorithms based on combinatoric topological string amplitudes. The PhD project would be based on this background and would be developed in discussions between Dr Ramgoolam and the student.

Requirements

BSc in Physics + Masters level training in theoretical physics.

SPCS Academics: Sanjaye Ramgoolam