arXiv Analytics

Sign in

arXiv:hep-ph/0501080AbstractReferencesReviewsResources

Gravity and strings

Steven B. Giddings

Published 2005-01-11Version 1

This is a broad-brush review of how string theory addresses several important questions of gravitational physics. The problem of non-renormalizability is first reviewed, followed by introduction of string theory as an ultraviolet-finite theory of gravity. String theory's successes also include predicting both gauge theory and fermions. The difficulty of extra dimensions becomes a possible virtue, when one notes that these lead to mechanisms to explain fermion generations, as well as a means to break the large gauge symmetries of string theory. Finally, a long standing problem of string theory, that of fixing the size and shape of the extra dimensions, has recently been addressed and may shed light on the origin of the cosmological constant, the ultimate fate of our universe, as well as the question of why gravity_is_ so weak.

Comments: Lecture given at 32nd SLAC Summer Institute on Particle Physics (SSI 2004): Natures Greatest Puzzles; Latex, 16 pages, 14 figures
Categories: hep-ph, gr-qc, hep-th
Related articles: Most relevant | Search more
arXiv:hep-ph/0308290 (Published 2003-08-29, updated 2004-04-30)
Holography, Entropy and Extra Dimensions
arXiv:hep-ph/0008126 (Published 2000-08-14)
Extra dimensions present a new flatness problem
arXiv:hep-ph/0301237 (Published 2003-01-27, updated 2003-05-08)
Equation of State of Oscillating Brans-Dicke Scalar and Extra Dimensions