Thematic Program on The Geometry of String Theory 2004 - 2005: String Phenomenology

DescriptionString phenomenology is an emerging research area in the rich interdisciplinary boundaries of string theory, particle physics, and cosmology. Although research in string phenomenology is motivated by physical questions, progress often comes from connections to more formal and mathematical aspects of string theory. These connections include: *How does the Standard Model of particle physics arise from string theory?: Calabi–Yau manifolds, G2 manifolds, brane worlds, orientfolds, intersecting D–branes, warped compactifications, flux compactifications *Can string theory provide a realistic cosmology?: brane cosmology, tachyon condensation, string field theory, decay of unstable branes, thermodynamics of strings and branes, Hagedorn temperature, models of inflation, time–dependent backgrounds *What are the experimental signatures of string theory?: brane worlds, extra dimensions, signatures of short distance physics from early universe cosmology, cosmic strings It is truly an exciting time in cosmology where experiments have produced and are continuing to yield an abundance of precision data. Similarly, collider experiments at Fermilab, SLAC and CERN, as well as precision low–energy experiments, have the potential to make remarkable new discoveries in particle physics in the next five years. Hence string phenomenology is both a timely and exciting topic of a workshop in 2005.