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Research interests

 

Our research is within a wide range of topics in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics. One of our main goals is to use string-theoretic techniques to achieve a better understanding of strongly coupled quantum systems, such as QCD, the theory of the strong interactions.

Our research areas include:

• Quantum Field Theory (perturbative and non-perturbative)
• Supersymmetry
• String Theory
• The AdS/CFT Correspondence
• Integrable systems and quantum groups

 

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Group Members

 

Group Leader

 

Postdoctoral Researchers

Postgraduate Students

Past Members

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Possible MSc or PhD Research Projects

 

• The Minimal Model/Higher Spin duality: Higher spin black holes and their thermodynamic properties
• Entanglement Entropy in Higher-Spin Theory
• Integrability in the AdS/CFT correspondence: Deformations, three-point functions, non-planar effects
• Holography at Finite Density
• Holographic duals of Chiral Symmetry Breaking
• Generalised geometry
• The pure spinor approach to string theory on RR backgrounds
• Logarithmic CFT and holography

 

MSc students typically need to study Quantum Field Theory, Group Theory, General Relativity and String Theory in their first year, before starting work on their projects. There is a possibility to follow relevant courses offered by the University of the Witwatersrand, SATACS, as well as informal reading courses within the group.

 

 

Applications

If you are interested in joining our group for your MSc or PhD studies, please contact K. Zoubos to enquire about availability of bursaries. In case no bursary is available from the group, you can still apply for NRF or NITheP bursaries (the calls typically open around July-August). For PhD applications, apart from the formal requirements you will typically be asked to send your CV, a copy of your MSc thesis and arrange for 1-2 recommendation letters to be sent directly to K. Zoubos. This should be done before you initiate an application with the University.

 

 

Past Honours Projects

In order to do an honours project in the group, one typically is expected to have obtained a distinction in Quantum Mechanics as well as taken (and done well) the 3rd year "Particle and Astroparticle Physics" course at UP, or an equivalent course elsewhere. One needs to commit to participate in an informal reading course in General Relativity, which is offered at the beginning of each year.

 

• Lehlogonolo Mashigo: "Introduction to the Principal Chiral Model and Its Deformations"

• Liandre Robberts: "Classical Circular String solutions in AdS5 Black Hole Backgrounds"

• Paul Tonsing:"Two-magnon coordinate Bethe ansatz for a dynamical SU(3) spin chain"

• Pierre van Rensburg:"Using generalized geometry to find a deformed solution of the supergravity equations"

• Jarryd Bath:"The spectral problem of N=2 quiver gauge theory obtained from a dicyclic orbifold of N=4 SYM"

• Albert Roux:"A Stochastic Approach to Quantum Mechanics"

• Craig Bekeur:"Investigating Strings in AdS5xS5"

• Paul Wilsenach:"The AdS/CFT correspondence and its applicability to the thermodynamics of Kerr black holes"

• Seromo Podile:"Dual Superconformal Symmetry in Yang- Mills Amplitudes"

• Daniel Wertheimer: "General relativity and the black ring coordinate system ". [Pdf]

• Jayden Savage: "Orbiting strings in AdS5 black hole backgrounds ". [Pdf]

• Shezaad Essop Moosa: "Soliton scattering via the dressing method on soliton models of S5". [Pdf]

• Phillip Badenhorst: "Characterisation of Higher Spin Black Holes ". [Pdf]

• Sam Tolmay: "Coordinate Bethe Ansatz and Quantum Group Symmetry of the Spin-1/2 Heisenberg Spin Chain". [Pdf]

• Daan Burger: " AdS3 within Kerr Geometry and the Entropy of the Near Horizon Extreme Kerr ". [Pdf]

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Publications

Publications from inSPIRE

 

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National Collaborations

 

• V. Jejjala (U. of the Witwatersrand)

 

International Collaborations

 

• E. Pomoni (DESY, Hamburg, Germany)
• C. Kristjansen (NBI, Copenhagen, Denmark)
• D. Giataganas (MSYSU, Kaohsiung, Taiwan)
• P. Caputa (Stockholm University, Sweden)

 

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Postdoctoral Positions

There are currently no postdoctoral fellowships available in the group. However, interested candidates who have completed (or are about to complete) their PhD are welcome to contact K. Zoubos to enquire about applying for fellowships, funded e.g. directly by the NRF or through NITheCS or CoE-MaSS.

In addition, the University of Pretoria grants postdoctoral fellowships annually. More information can be found here. The vice-chancellor's postdoctoral fellowships are particularly relevant for international candidates. For more details, please contact K. Zoubos.

PhD Positions

 

There are no PhD positions available at the moment.

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Theoretical Physics Links

 

National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences

Mandelstam Institute for Theoretical Physics at Wits

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences