Microscopic Physics of Black Holes in String theory

Research Group: 
Centre for Research in String Theory
Length of Study in Years: 
3-4
Full-time Project: 
Yes
Funding: 
QM Scholarship
STFC
Project Description: 
Since the seminal papers by Bekenstein and Hawking it is known that quantum mechanically black holes should be described by mixed states that obey thermodynamic relations analogous to those describing non-gravitational systems. It is still a challenge today to provide a consistent and complete quantum mechanical description of the states (called microstates) that can explain statistically the thermodynamic laws mentioned above.

The PhD project offered focuses on this problem from a string theory perspective and aims to better characterise the generic properties of the microstates for different types of black holes. In particular, in string theory, black holes are realised as bound states of many basic constituents, such as perturbative string states and branes. To derive quantitative information on the physical nature of these microstates, various approaches will be employed, such as: the use of the AdS/CFT duality, string amplitudes in the presence of D-branes, and explicit construction of the microstates as geometric (or non-geometric) solutions in (generalised) supergravity.
Requirements: 
A good knowledge of basic quantum field theory and general relativity is necessary. Although knowledge of string theory and supersymmetry will be useful in carrying out the PhD project, it will not affect the PhD application.
SPA Academics: 
Masaki Shigemori
Rodolfo Russo