Almost all theoretical physicists believe that quantum field theories
based on Einstein's general relativity must
necessarily be ill-defined. In technical parlance this is known
as the "ultraviolet problem" of quantum gravity. But, is
there really a problem? New insights and calculations based
on the concept that gravity can be expressed in terms of two
copies of standard particle theories suggest that quantum
gravity may be much, much tamer. It may even be what is
called "ultraviolet finite". The relationship between gravity
and gauge theories (which I will explain) also offers the hope
of simplifying Einstein's theory, as will be illustrated using
black holes.
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Zvi Bern studied at MIT and UC Berkeley, and traveled the globe as a
postdoc before joining the UCLA PhysicsDepartment, where he is currently
Professor of Physics. He has won numerous awards, including the 2014
Sakurai Prize fromthe American Physical Society, shared with Lance Dixon
andDavid Kosower. He'd like to find out how particles scatter off each
other by bypassing complexities inherent in Feynman diagrams. This has
applications to the LHC at CERN, and, on the more theoretical side, to
supersymmetric gauge and gravitytheories. Bern first got into physics by
striving to be like hisolder brother, who was learning electrical
engineering. But because he didn't really understand electronics, he
decided toread about physics to help with the fundamentals. He never
became a radio engineer, but, as a consolation prize, he did getto
understand quantum field theory. |
Introduction by Lars
Bildsten & David Gross |