supergravity

American  

[soo-per-grav-i-tee] / ˌsu pərˈgræv ɪ ti /

noun

Physics.

1. supersymmetry

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supergravity British  

/ ˌsuːpəˈɡrævɪtɪ /

noun

1. physics any of various theories in which supersymmetry is applied to the theory of gravitation

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supergravity Scientific  

/ so̅o̅′pər-grăv′ĭ-tē /

1. A quantum field theory that combines general relativity with supersymmetry in order to unify gravity with the other fundamental forces of nature. Supergravity predicts the existence of the graviton as a carrier for the force of gravity, as well as a corresponding particle called the gravitino, neither of which have been observed experimentally.

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Etymology

Origin of supergravity

First recorded in 1975–80; super- + gravity

Example Sentences

Dr. Deser worked with Bruno Zumino, one of the originators of supersymmetry, to add gravity to the theory, creating the theory of supergravity.

From New York Times • May 8, 2023

Dr. Deser is perhaps best known for his work in the 1970s as one of the pioneers of supergravity, which expanded an idea known as supersymmetry to include gravity.

From New York Times • May 8, 2023

As testament to that position, he says that despite the fact that supergravity is fundamentally about particle physics, “I use it, too, even though I’m a cosmologist.”

From Scientific American • Aug. 6, 2019

David Tong, a string theorist at the University of Cambridge, UK, says that the innovation behind supergravity was “astonishing”, given that at the time particle physicists and gravity researchers rarely interacted.

From Nature • Aug. 5, 2019

One was that people were not really making much progress toward showing that supergravity was finite or that it could explain the kinds of particles that we observe.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking