A new approach for the first quantization of superstrings, called B-RNS-GSS formalism, is being constructed. It consists of quantizing embeddings of super surfaces into superspaces. As in the classical theory of super-embeddings, it has twistor-like variables. In this talk, besides motivating the need for such a formalism, I will review the work done in hep-th: 2211.06899, where the hetetoric supergravity equations of motion were derived from BRST nilpotency.
Taking string theory off shell requires breaking Weyl invariance on the worldsheet, i.e. the worldsheet theory is now a QFT instead of a CFT. I will explain Tseytlin’s first-quantized approach to taking the worldsheet theory off-shell in a consistent manner, with a particular emphasis on the subtleties involved in calculating the sphere amplitude. This approach allows for the derivation of a classical string action which gives rise to the correct equations of motion and S-matrix, to all orders in perturbation theory.
I'll also explain the underlying conceptual structure of the Susskind and Uglum black hole entropy argument. There I will show explicitly how the classical (tree-level) effective action and entropy S = A/4G_N may be calculated from the sphere diagrams.
Time permitting, I will discuss ongoing efforts to derive the Ryu-Takayanagi formula in string theory.
The mixing angles of the quark sectors are constrained by unitarity in the standard model. However, recent data indicates a about 3 sigma deviation from unitarity in the mixing angle between the 1st and 2nd generation down-type quarks, known as the Cabibbo angle anomaly. The observations include the charged-current weak decays of neutrons, nuclei, kaons, and the hadronic decay of tau leptons. Although the issue appears to lie in the quark sector, modifying the neutrino sector may offer a solution. In this talk, we discuss recent findings that suggest a sterile neutrino of MeV mass mixing with the electron-type neutrino can resolve the Cabibbo angle anomaly. We also examine the current bounds and future prospects of this scenario.