Quantum geometry of spacetime in superstring theory

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23740178
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Particle/Nuclear/Cosmic ray/Astro physics
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: OKUYAMA Kazumi 信州大学, 学術研究院理学系, 准教授 (70447720)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: M理論 / AdS/CFT対応 / 非摂動効果 / 膜のインスタントン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In superstring theory and its strong coupling limit, known as M-theory, we can study the quantum gravity effects beyond classical gravity via the holographic duality between gauge theory and gravity. In this work, we have studied the quantum corrections in M-theory on 4-dimensional anti-de Sitter space from the analysis of the partition function of the dual gauge theory, so-called ABJM theory. We have arrived at a very detailed understanding of the non-perturvative corrections beyond the perturbative loop corrections in gravity. There are two types of such non-perturbative corrections, worldsheet instantons and membrane instantons, and we have determined the complete analytic forms of instanton coefficients as functions of coupling. We believe that this is a very important first step towards the non-perturbative definition of M-theory.

Free Research Field

素粒子理論