TSVP Talk: "What Can Quantum Field Theory Teach Us About Black Holes (And Vice Versa)?" by Nick Dorey

Title: What Can Quantum Field Theory Teach Us About Black Holes (And Vice Versa)?

Abstract: The existence of black holes is a remarkable prediction of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The prediction was spectacularly confirmed by the detection at LIGO in 2015 of the gravitational waves emitted by a black hole merger. Despite this, the status of black holes in a more complete description of our universe including quantum mechanics has long remained mysterious, presenting puzzles for theorists which still remain unsolved.

The AdS/CFT Correspondence provides a striking and unexpected relation or "duality" between gravity and the quantum field theories which underly our understanding of particle physics.  AdS/CFT has provided new tools for studying the physics of black holes and has also led to progress in understanding the behaviour of QFT at strong coupling. In my talk, I will review the correspondence and some of the insights it has provided. I will also discuss the future prospects for resolving some of the hardest outstanding questions.

Profile: Nick Dorey received his PhD from Edinburgh University in 1991 and then held postdoctoral and junior faculty positions at Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Washington and Swansea University. He has been a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge since 2007.  He is currently visiting OIST as a TSVP Visiting Scholar.

Language: English, no interpretation.

Target audience: General audience / everyone at OIST and beyond.
Freely accessible to all OIST members and guests without registration.

This talk will also be broadcast online via Zoom:

Meeting ID: 962 8828 4413
Passcode: 832622

※ Please note that this event may be recorded and the videos uploaded. In addition, photos may be taken during the event. These are intended for publication online (the OIST website, social media, etc.)※