Dr Sanjaye Ramgoolam

Dr Sanjaye Ramgoolam

Reader in Theoretical Physics
Address:
School of Physics and Astronomy
Queen Mary, University of London
327 Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS

Telephone: 020 7882 5799
Room: G O Jones 609
Email:

String theory, representation theory, combinatorics

My recent work has largely  been in gauge-string duality, in particular the AdS/CFT correspondence, which relates 4-dimensional quantum field theory  (QFT) to 10-dimensional string theory. I have developed a  mathematical framework based on symmetric groups, Brauer algebras, representation theory, combinatorics, in understanding the map between states in the QFT and states of strings, branes and geometries in the 10 dimensions. A recent theme emerging from these investigations is the role of two-dimensional topological field theories (TFT2)  as a structure which captures both the combinatorics and spacetime dependences of correlators in four-dimensional theories.  I have also developed simple mathematical models of gauge-string duality in low dimensions, e.g deriving the counting of strings wrapping the two-dimensional sphere from matrix models, which can be viewed as zero dimensional QFT. Some of the mathematical  techniques have also been applied to find new counting results for Feynman diagrams  in QFT, including the simplest ones : scalar field theory and quantum electrodynamics (QED, which describes photons and electrons).

A very recent interdisciplinary direction (initiated in a collaboration with D. Kartsaklis and M. Sadrzadeh)  has been to develop matrix theory techniques to give a framework for analyzing matrix data in computational linguistics. This is a video of the talk I gave at the Quantum Physics and Logic'' conference organized by the Oxford Quantum Group.

A complete list of my papers can be accessed  at Inspire-HEP-database or Google scholar (Following standard practice in theoretical particle physics, author lists are all alphabetical)

Selected papers organised by theme (although some lie at interfaces of these themes

CFT4 as TFT2

AdS/CFT, giant graviton branes, correlators of gauge invariant operators

Half-BPS case (related to one-matrix combinatorics)

Eighth-BPS case (related to multi-matrix combinatorics)

Some research presentations

1. Linguistic Matrix Theory (conference talk at Quantum Physics and Logic'' Nijmegen, 2017)
2. Permutation centralizer algebras, polynomial invariants and supersymmetric states (talk at conference on representation theory and physics, Leeds, July 2016)
3. BPS states, permutations and information (talk at YITP Kyoto programme on string theory, condensed matter physics and quantum information, June 2016)
4. Quantum Field thories (QFTs), quivers and word combinatorics (talk at theory group, computer science, EECS, QMUL, Oct. 21, 2015)
5. CFT4 (4D conformal QFT) as TFT2( 2D topological field theory) (talk at school of Maths, QMUL, Mar 2, 2015)
6.  Quiver gauge theory and TFT2s (2d topological field theories) (talk at Quantum integrability workshop, Surrey, 08/2014)
7. Quantum states to brane geometries via fuzzy moduli space (talk at Oxford Maths Institute, 02/12)
8. Permutations, strings and Feynman Graphs ( talk at City Maths Dept, 11/2011)
9. Strings, Permutations and Quantum Fields (talk at Corfu2011 workshop on non-commutatve field theory and gravity)
10. Symmetric groups and local operators in gauge theory (talk at Lisbon 2011)
11. From numbers to strings and branes (talk at Galileo Galilei Institute 2011)
12. Feynman Diagrams and Absolute Galois group (talk at B(A)MC 2010)
13. Matrix Models, Hurwitz spaces Galois Group (talk in Southampton Pure Maths group)
14. Fuzzy geometry of membranes in M-theory (talk at Imperial)

A short review article :

1. Schur-Weyl duality and Gauge-string duality  (Talk given at "Ten years of AdS/CFT in Argentina,2008)

Teaching

Currently teaching  :

1. PHY6324 (Mathematical Techniques 4)
2. PHY4215 (Quantum Physics)

Undergraduate Projects supervised :

1. From classical strings to photons and gravtions
2. Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion
3. Dark Matter, dark energy and cosmology
4. Entanglement and decoherence in quantum physics

Modules taught in the past :

1. Electromagnetic  theory (4th year MSci course)
2. Quantum Mechanics and Symmetry (3rd year)
3. Electromagnetism for pre-medical (at Brown)

Outreach

Some popular talks :

1. Duality and Emergence in String theory, talk at the Mauritius Diaspora Conference 2018
2. Symmetries and Surprises in String Theory (Talk for Psi Star QMUL, December 2013)
3. What is String Theory ? (talk at Bryanston School, April 2012)
4. Strings and hidden geometries (talk at Inauguration of School of Phys and Astro 2012)
5. String Theory and Hidden dimensions of spacetime (talk for Waltham Forest Physics masterclass)
6. From force and matter to strings( talk at Highgate school, 2003)
7. Strings in the quantum world ( talk at Oxford, 2009 )
8. Duality and the nature of quantum space-time  : ( talk at Oxford,Jan 2009 )
9. Space and Time, Light and Gravity in String Theory ( talk at PPARC 2006)

Grants

Current and recent grants :

1. Science and Technology Facilities Council, (£632,432). Brandhuber, Berman, Ramgoolam, Russo, Spence, Thomas, Travaglini, Wecht. Consolidated grant String theory, gauge theory and duality (2011-2015)
2. Science and Technology Facilities Council, (£1,431,413). Spence  Berman, Brandhuber, Ramgoolam, Russo, Thomas, Travaglini. Rolling grant String theory, gauge theory and duality (2008-2013)
3. Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council: Spence , Berman, Brandhuber, Ramgoolam, Thomas. Rolling grant String theory, gauge theory and gravity (2006-2010),  (£249,800.)
4. STFC (PPARC) Advanced Fellowship, 2003-2008  (  £220,000 )
5. Scientist in charge for  Marie Cure Outgoing Fellowship ( MOIF-CT-2006-038381) held by   Diego Rodriguez Gomez at QMUL and Princeton.
6. Royal Society International exchange grants with South Africa and Cyprus.

PhDs/Postdocs

PhD students supervised :

1. Costis Papageorgakis
2. Tom Brown
3. David Turton
4. Jurgis Pasukonis
5. David Garner
6. Paolo Mattioli
7. Chris Lewis-Brown (current)

Recent post-doctoral collaborators  at QMUL  :

1. Ali Zahabi
2. Diego Rodriguez Gomez
3. Vishnu Jejjala
4. Yusuke Kimura
5. Paul Heslop
6. Congkao Wen

Scientific interests

1. Energy issues : I initiated and developed the module "Physics of Energy" at QMUL (PHY250)
2. Fusion Energy : This is a fascinating area involving theoretical problems in plasma physics and materials sciences.
3. Popular science.

Some other Interests :

1. Science fiction : e.g authors Alistair Reynolds, Stephen Baxter
2. Mauritius
3. Poetry : There was a time where I had some interest in writing poetry (rigorously free-style when it came to rhyming considerations). Some of it is still at my old web-page at Brown.
4. Running, football ....

The complete and up-to-date list of my publications is available at the Inspire-Hep database  and at Google Scholar

A description of some  my research organized according to some general themes is under the Research tab.

This is not an exhaustive list and I would be happy to discuss other project possibilities.

Selected publications

Permutation Centralizer Algebras and Multi-Matrix Invariants
Mattioli P, Ramgoolam S
Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation, and Cosmology, 21st March 2016.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.93.065040

Counting Tensor Model Observables and Branched Covers of the 2-Sphere
Geloun JB, Ramgoolam S
Combinatorics, Physics and their Interactions, 4th February 2014.

Quivers as Calculators: Counting, Correlators and Riemann Surfaces
Pasukonis J, Ramgoolam S
The Journal of High Energy Physics, Volume 94, issue 04, 9th January 2013.
DOI: 10.1007/JHEP04(2013)094

A double coset ansatz for integrability in AdS/CFT
Koch RDM, Ramgoolam S
JOURNAL OF HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS, issue 6, 1st June 2012.
DOI: 10.1007/JHEP06(2012)083

Branes, anti-branes and Brauer algebras in gauge-gravity duality
Kimura Y, Ramgoolam S
Journal of High Energy Physics, Volume 2007, issue 11, page 078, 1st November 2007.
DOI: 10.1088/1126-6708/2007/11/078

Exact correlators of giant gravitons from dual N=4 SYM theory
RAMGOOLAM SK, Jevicki A, Corley S
ADVANCES IN THEORETICAL AND MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS, Volume 5, issue 4, page 809, 1st July 2001.
DOI: 10.4310/ATMP.2001.v5.n4.a6

CFT4 as SO(4,2)-invariant TFT2
Koch RDM, Ramgoolam S
Nuclear Physics, Section B, DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2014.11.013