Supergravity, Strings and DualitiesA Meeting in Celebration of Chris Hull’s 60th Birthday

George Papadopoulos

King’s College London

28-29 April 2017Imperial College

1980’s

I String Theory

I Sigma model approach to Strings

I Geometry of 2-dimensionalsupersymmetric sigma models

1980’s

I String Theory

I Sigma model approach to Strings

I Geometry of 2-dimensionalsupersymmetric sigma models

1980’s

I String Theory

I Sigma model approach to Strings

I Geometry of 2-dimensionalsupersymmetric sigma models

1980’s

I String Theory

I Sigma model approach to Strings

I Geometry of 2-dimensionalsupersymmetric sigma models

At Queen Mary College

Later in 1990’s

Classification

I Classification of supergravitybackgrounds that preserve a fraction ofspacetime superymmetry

I Initial focus on the maximallysupersymmetric solutions

Classification

I Classification of supergravitybackgrounds that preserve a fraction ofspacetime superymmetry

I Initial focus on the maximallysupersymmetric solutions

IIB plane wave

Theorem [Figueroa-O’Farrill, GP]: The maximally supersymmetricbackgrounds of IIB supergravity are locally isometric to one of thefollowing; Minkowski space, AdS5×S5 or the maximallysupersymmetric plane wave

From Plato to M-theory

I Ancient Greek Mythology

I Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and mereHumans

I All locked in a battle for recognition,excellence and lasting immortality

I For millennia laboratory forunderstanding human nature

From Plato to M-theory

I Ancient Greek Mythology

I Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and mereHumans

I All locked in a battle for recognition,excellence and lasting immortality

I For millennia laboratory forunderstanding human nature

From Plato to M-theory

I Ancient Greek Mythology

I Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and mereHumans

I All locked in a battle for recognition,excellence and lasting immortality

I For millennia laboratory forunderstanding human nature

From Plato to M-theory

I Ancient Greek Mythology

I Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and mereHumans

I All locked in a battle for recognition,excellence and lasting immortality

I For millennia laboratory forunderstanding human nature

From Plato to M-theory

I Ancient Greek Mythology

I Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and mereHumans

I All locked in a battle for recognition,excellence and lasting immortality

I For millennia laboratory forunderstanding human nature

Crete Meeting in String Theory 2003

I Relate the tsunami from Thera to Crete in1,550BC with the plane wave solutions

I First recorded application of string theory(1, 550BC>): The suggestion of Ariadneto Theseus to use an open string to findhis way out of the Knossos maze.

I Allegory for using string theory to findour way out of the maze of theoreticalphysics

Crete Meeting in String Theory 2003

I Relate the tsunami from Thera to Crete in1,550BC with the plane wave solutions

I First recorded application of string theory(1, 550BC>): The suggestion of Ariadneto Theseus to use an open string to findhis way out of the Knossos maze.

I Allegory for using string theory to findour way out of the maze of theoreticalphysics

Crete Meeting in String Theory 2003

I Relate the tsunami from Thera to Crete in1,550BC with the plane wave solutions

I First recorded application of string theory(1, 550BC>): The suggestion of Ariadneto Theseus to use an open string to findhis way out of the Knossos maze.

I Allegory for using string theory to findour way out of the maze of theoreticalphysics

Crete Meeting in String Theory 2003

I Relate the tsunami from Thera to Crete in1,550BC with the plane wave solutions

I First recorded application of string theory(1, 550BC>): The suggestion of Ariadneto Theseus to use an open string to findhis way out of the Knossos maze.

I Allegory for using string theory to findour way out of the maze of theoreticalphysics

Crete Meeting in String Theory 2003

I Chris explained the myth of Ariadne andTheseus

I Suggested M-theory fits well into themyth!

I Called for a modern Theseus to slain thebeast of Minotaur theory!

Crete Meeting in String Theory 2003

I Chris explained the myth of Ariadne andTheseus

I Suggested M-theory fits well into themyth!

I Called for a modern Theseus to slain thebeast of Minotaur theory!

Crete Meeting in String Theory 2003

I Chris explained the myth of Ariadne andTheseus

I Suggested M-theory fits well into themyth!

I Called for a modern Theseus to slain thebeast of Minotaur theory!

Crete Meeting in String Theory 2003

I Chris explained the myth of Ariadne andTheseus

I Suggested M-theory fits well into themyth!

I Called for a modern Theseus to slain thebeast of Minotaur theory!

M-theory

I M-(embrane)

I M-(atrix)

I M-(ega)

I M-(inotaur)

as a reminder of the challenge ahead.

M-theory

I M-(embrane)

I M-(atrix)

I M-(ega)

I M-(inotaur)

as a reminder of the challenge ahead.

M-theory

I M-(embrane)

I M-(atrix)

I M-(ega)

I M-(inotaur)

as a reminder of the challenge ahead.

M-theory

I M-(embrane)

I M-(atrix)

I M-(ega)

I M-(inotaur)

as a reminder of the challenge ahead.

M-theory

I M-(embrane)

I M-(atrix)

I M-(ega)

I M-(inotaur)

as a reminder of the challenge ahead.

M-theory

I M-(embrane)

I M-(atrix)

I M-(ega)

I M-(inotaur)

as a reminder of the challenge ahead.

Happy Birthday Chris-Many Happy Returns