Theoretical Investigations in Classical and Quantum Gravity

由Jorge Pullin教授指导的一个新的理论引力物理研究项目将在CAREER项目下启动。普林教授将在经典和量子力学层面上对广义相对论的问题进行理论和数值研究。本项目主要研究方向包括：1)开发球对称场演化代码，结合微扰理论研究引力坍缩的临界行为和双黑洞碰撞问题。2)量子广义相对论环路表示法的发展，强调了扩展环路的使用，这有可能解决传统环路方法的几个技术难题，并增加对环路表示法基础的经典规范理论的见解。这个项目还包括一系列教育方面的活动，包括使用计算机、招募少数民族和出版一本面向研究生的书。

A new research program in theoretical gravitational physics, under the direction of Prof. Jorge Pullin will be initiated under the CAREER program. Prof. Pullin will undertake theoretical and numerical studies in problems dealing with the General Theory of Relativity at a classical and quantum mechanical level. The major focuses of the program include: 1) The development of codes for the evolution of spherically symmetric fields applied in conjunction with perturbation theory to the study of critical behavior of gravitational collapse and the problem of the collision of two black holes. 2) The development of the loop representation for quantum general relativity emphasizing the use of extended loops, which have potential to solve several technical difficulties of the traditional loop approach and to add insight into the classical canonical theory underlying the loop representation. This project also includes a series of activities in education including uses of computers, recruitment of minorities and a book destined to graduate students.