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Breakdown of String Perturbation Theory for Many External Particles.
1International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Shivakote, Bengaluru 560089, India.
Physical Review Letters
|April 15, 2017
Summary
String perturbation theory breaks down with many low-energy particles. This finding has implications for the black hole information paradox.
Area of Science:
- High energy physics
- String theory
- Quantum gravity
Background:
- String theory describes fundamental particles and forces.
- Perturbation theory is a common tool for calculations in physics.
- The behavior of string theory in certain limits is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the validity of string perturbation theory in a specific limit.
- To explore the consequences of this breakdown for fundamental physics problems.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of massless string scattering amplitudes.
- Consideration of a limit with a large number of external particles and small individual energies.
- Examination of the growth of the moduli space volume.
- Independent numerical evidence.
Main Results:
- String perturbation theory breaks down in the considered limit.
- The breakdown is supported by both theoretical arguments (moduli space volume) and numerical data.
Conclusions:
- The standard perturbative approach to string theory is insufficient in this regime.
- This breakdown may offer new insights into resolving the black hole information paradox.