Bonn 2001 – scientific programme

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MP: Theoretische und Mathematische Grundlagen der Physik

MP VIII: HV VIII

MP VIII.1: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 29, 2001, 11:00–12:00, HS VIII

String Theory: The Challenge of Many Parameters — •Werner Nahm — Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bonn

Initially, string theorists hoped to explain the world without any free parameters. Now there are tens of thousands of string ground states, every one typically with hundreds of parameters. String dualities unify this universe in a coherent and rather beautiful whole, but its exploration will take time and much mathematical insight, from fields as diverse as algebraic geometry, differential geometry, operator algebras and number theory.