The theoretical high-energy physics group at the Weizmann Institute studies the basic theoretical questions that underlie fundamental physics:

• What do strongly coupled quantum field theories, like quantum chromodynamics, behave like?

• What is the string theory dual description to quantum chromodynamics, that becomes weakly coupled in its large N limit ?

• What are the general possible behaviors of quantum field theories, and can they give us hints for physics beyond the standard model of particle physics?

• How should quantum theory and gravity be unified, and what does this unification teach us about cosmological singularities like the big bang?

• What is the relation between black holes, Quantum chaos and Quantum Information?

• What new universality classes exist in Quantum chaos, and how are they related to ways of taking the large N limit?

• How do we characterize Quantum chaotic field theories in 1+1 dimensions and above? What are the implications for any gravity dual?

• What is the fundamental formulation of string theory, and how is it related to quantum field theory?