Lance Dixon

The Standard Model, physicists' current theory of matter and the forces of nature, is imperfect because it omits gravity and requires 19 input parameters. A possible alternative is superstring theory, which includes gravity and has no input parameters. According to this "theory of everything," all elementary particles and forces and perhaps even the space-time continuum consist of tiny strings under great tension, vibrating and spinning in 10 dimensions. But this theory is very difficult to test or use in calculations. For it to make sense in the real world of four dimensions (space and time), scientists have tried to "hide" the extra six dimensions by curling them up into a space so small that it cannot be probed. Lance Dixon, at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, and collaborators devised a simpler, easier way to hide the extra dimensions to produce realistic models. With others, he has used superstring theory as a calculation tool for improving theoretical understanding of widely accepted theories. University researchers supported by the Office of Science also have helped establish principles for constructing a superstring model that could contain a realistic unified model of fundamental particles.

Scientific Impact: This work led to an important partnership of high-energy physics and differential geometry research that has generated new insights into the nature of matter and driven new research at the forefront of mathematics.

Social Impact: Eventually, this research could radically change human understanding of the constituents of nature and history of the universe.

Reference: L. J. Dixon et al., Nucl. Phys. B294: 43-82 (1987); T. Banks et al., Nucl. Phys. B299: 613-626 (1988).

URL: http://www.physics.ucsb.edu/~jpierre/strings/basics.htm

Technical Contact: Dr. Lance Dixon, lance@slac.stanford.edu

Press Contact: Jeff Sherwood, DOE Office of Public Affairs, 202-586-5806

SC-Funding Office: Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics