Title：A geometric origin of quantum field theory

Speaker：Prof. Babak Haghighat，Assistant Professor, Yau Mathematical Sciences Center, Tsinghua University

Date：16:00 am  October 26, 2017

Venue：Zheng Yutong Lecture Hall, New Science Building

Abstract： Since its early days mankind has wondered about a geometric origin for the fundamental laws of nature. Such approaches manifested themselves in the idea of platonic bodies, for example, and became influential in further developments of physical sciences and astronomy. Today, our physical theories are much more sophisticated and in the form of quantum field theory a theory has been found which describes all known interactions except for gravity. But one fundamental question remains the same and we want to pose it in this talk in a modern context: Is there a geometric origin of quantum field theory? It turns out that in the context of string theory this question can be answered with a yes. The geometric origin can be found through a mysterious six dimensional theory which is the central focus of many current developments in modern theoretical physics. In this talk, we want to explain the underlying geometry of this six-dimensional theory as well as how this theory relates to four-dimensional quantum field theories.

Bio：

Current position:

Assistant Professor, Yau Mathematical Sciences Center, Tsinghua University, since 10/2016

Research experience:

Postdoctoral fellow, Harvard University, 9/2011 - 9/2016

Postdoctoral fellow, Utrecht University, 9/2010 - 8/2011

Research Associate, University of Bonn, 11/2009 - 8/2010

Education:

PhD, University of Bonn, 12/2006 - 10/2009

Undergraduate and Master studies, University of Bonn, 10/2001 - 11/2006