String Theory: Lessons for Low Energy Physics

Abstract

This talk considers possible lessons of string theory for low energy physics. These are of two types. First, assuming that string theory is the correct underlying theory of all interactions, we ask whether there are any generic predictions the theory makes, and we compare the predictions of string theory with those of conventional grand unified theories. Second, string theory offers some possible answers to a number of troubling naturalness questions. These include problems of discrete and continuous symmetries in general, and CP and the strong CP problem in particular.