Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Mirror symmetry (string theory)

Mirror symmetry (string theory)

 * The following discussion is an archived discussion of the TFAR nomination of the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page unless you are renominating the article at TFAR. For renominations, please add   to the top of the discussion and   at the bottom, then complete a new TFAR nom underneath.

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/May 9, 2014 by BencherliteTalk 14:20, 24 April 2014 (UTC)



In mathematics and theoretical physics, mirror symmetry is a relationship between geometric objects called Calabi–Yau manifolds (pictured). The term refers to a situation where two Calabi–Yau manifolds look very different geometrically but are nevertheless equivalent when employed as extra dimensions of string theory. Mirror symmetry was originally discovered by physicists. Mathematicians became interested in this relationship around 1990 when Philip Candelas, Xenia de la Ossa, Paul Green, and Linda Parks showed that it could be used as a tool in a branch of mathematics called enumerative geometry. Today mirror symmetry is a major research topic in pure mathematics, and mathematicians are working to develop a mathematical understanding of the relationship based on physicists' intuition. Mirror symmetry is also a fundamental tool for doing calculations in string theory, and it has been used to understand aspects of quantum field theory, the formalism that physicists use to describe elementary particles. Major approaches to mirror symmetry include the homological mirror symmetry program of Maxim Kontsevich and the SYZ conjecture of Andrew Strominger, Shing-Tung Yau, and Eric Zaslow.
 * Most recent similar articles: AdS/CFT correspondence
 * Main editors: Polytope24
 * Promoted: 2014
 * Reasons for nomination: Lots of people have heard of string theory, the remarkable theory that physicists are using to unify quantum mechanics and gravity. What most people don't know is that string theory is also a very important tool in pure mathematics. Mirror symmetry is an example of a phenomenon in string theory that has revolutionized parts of mathematics.


 * This article was very recently promoted to FA status. It's one of a select few mathematics articles that have been featured, so I think it would be cool to show it on the main page.


 * Support as nominator. Polytope24 (talk) 20:27, 19 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Was glad to promote this article at GAN, glad to see it pass FAC, and I am just as glad to support it now. it is a rarity to see a Mathematics article at TFA, and this is a good one.--ColonelHenry (talk) 22:31, 19 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support per ColonelHenry  Montanabw (talk) 06:27, 20 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support. Because, um, well, SCIENCE !!! &mdash; Cirt (talk) 22:39, 20 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support per Cirt. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 01:53, 21 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support per Cirt, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:26, 23 April 2014 (UTC)