Two talks on a tentative theory of large distance physics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a tentative, background-independent theory of large distance physics using a 2D nonlinear model called the lambda-model, which aims to unify quantum field theory and string scattering descriptions at different scales.

Contribution

It proposes a novel nonperturbative framework, the lambda-model, that constructs a large-distance quantum field theory and effective backgrounds for string scattering, operating entirely at large distances.

Findings

The lambda-model is formulated and described in general terms.

It provides a background-independent, nonperturbative approach to large distance physics.

Concrete calculations are needed to assess its physical usefulness.

Abstract

These talks present an overview of a tentative theory of large distance physics. For each large distance L (in dimensionless units), the theory gives two complementary descriptions of spacetime physics: quantum field theory at distances larger than L, string scattering amplitudes at distances smaller than L. The mechanism of the theory is a certain 2d nonlinear model, the lambda-model, whose target manifold is the manifold of general nonlinear models of the worldsurface, the background spacetimes for string scattering. So far, the theory has only been formulated and its basic working described, in general terms. The theory's only claims to interest at present are matters of general principle. It is a self-contained nonperturbative theory of large distance physics, operating entirely at large distance. The lambda-model constructs an actual QFT at large distance, a functional integral over spacetime fields. It constructs an effective background spacetime for string scattering at relatively small distances. It is background independent, dynamically. Nothing is adjustable in its formulation. It is a mechanical theory, not an S-matrix theory. String scattering takes place at small distances within a mechanical large distance environment. The lambda-model constructs QFT in a way that offers possibilities of novel physical phenomena at large distances. The task now is to perform concrete calculations in the lambda-model, to find out if it produces a physically useful QFT.