Application of higher dimensional theories to cosmology

• Main Author: Goo, Joseph Wei Zhen
• Other Authors: Leek Meng Lee
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Science::Physics
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/166515
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This thesis discusses the electroweak theory, which unifies the electromagnetic and weak nuclear forces, but has several problems such as the origin of Higgs potential, hierarchy, fine-tuning, and vacuum energy. The Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is proposed as a candidate for physics beyond the Standard Model, which solves some of these problems and provides a candidate for dark matter. However, MSSM does not describe gravity, which leads to the need for a unified theory of Quantum Field Theory and General Relativity. String theory, which proposes that the fundamental objects in nature are one-dimensional strings, is introduced as a possible solution. The thesis also discusses the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati (DGP) braneworld model of dark energy, motivated by superstring theory. The thesis is divided into five parts, covering electroweak theory, supersymmtry, string theory, DGP model, and conclusion.