I give a qualitative description of a few problems in theoretical physics that I’ve thought about in recent years (the variety of ideas and techniques has a good overlap with some of Mike’s past interests). Topics will include a quantum field theory approach to determining Ricci flat metrics on K3 surfaces, D-brane models of theories of fractons, and a preliminary foray into theoretical biology.
I will speak about my recent work with Zechuan Zheng where we study the SU(Nc) lattice Yang-Mills theory in the ’t Hooft limit Nc → infinity, at dimensions D=2,3,4, via the numerical bootstrap method. It combines the Makeenko-Migdal loop equations, with the cut-off L on maximal length of Wilson loops, and the positivity conditions on certain correlation matrices. We thus obtain rigorous upper...