Ervin Goldfain. Reflections on the Future of Particle Theory
Natural Sciences / Physics / Particle physics
Submitted on: Feb 25, 2012, 09:41:24
Description: As it is known, Quantum Field Theory (QFT) describes interaction of stable or quasi-stable fields whose evolution is deterministic and time-reversible. By contrast, behavior of strongly coupled fields or dynamics in the Terascale sector is prone to become unstable and chaotic. Non-renormalizable interactions are likely to proliferate and prevent full cancellation of ultraviolet divergences. A specific signature of this transient regime is the onset of long-range dynamic correlations in space-time, the emergence of strange attractors in phase space and transition from smooth to fractal topology. Our focus here is the impact of fractal topology on physics unfolding above the electroweak scale. Arguments are given for perturbative renormalization of field theory on fractal space-time, breaking of discrete symmetries, hierarchical generation of particle masses and couplings as well as the potential for highly unusual phases of matter which are ultra-weakly coupled to SM.