String Theory and Mathematics Workshop
A hands-on exploration of the way ideas from theoretical physics, especially string theory, find their expression within pure mathematics.
Summer Institute for Mathematics at the University of Washington
Charles Doran, Ursula Whitcher, and Arthur Popa
Summer 2005
The Summer Institute for Mathematics at the University of Washington, also known as SIMUW, is a six-week residential program for mathematically talented high school students. This page collects the materials from a one-day SIMUW workshop on string theory and reflexive polyhedra.
Morning Session: The Shape of Spacetime
- Introduction: Physics as a source of mathematical examples
- Spacetime
- Special Relativity Worksheet
- Curved Spacetime and Topology
- Curvature
- Worksheet
- Worksheet Notes
Afternoon Session: Strings and Polytopes
- How can we describe the spaces strings live in?
- Reflexive polygons
- Activity: find reflexive polygons
- Are there infinite families of reflexive polygons?
- Mirror pairs
- Putting it all together: polytopes and string theory
Charles Doran, Ursula Whitcher, and Arthur Popa
Summer 2005