Research on Quantum Fluctuation Phenomena and Gravitation

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This project will involve theoretical research on various aspects of quantum field theory and its relationship to gravitational theory and cosmology. The research will especially focus upon issues relating to quantum fluctuations, either in gravitational systems or in other contexts (such as boundary effects) which are analogous to gravity. One line of investigation will study the vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field in flat spacetime. New physical effects which may be testable by experiment will be sought. A closely related line of investigation will study the effects of fluctuations of the gravitational field itself. When quantum matter fields act as the source of the gravitational field, there will often be large fluctuations in the energy density and pressure of the source which will translate into large fluctuations in the gravitational field. The effects of these fluctuations will be investigated. There are also fluctuations due to the quantum nature of the gravitational field itself. These will be studied in the context of a model where a background bath of gravitons causes the lightcone to be slightly smeared out. This smearing may produce effects upon other quantum fields which will lead to insights about the quantum nature of gravity and possibly even observable effects. In the latter case, one would also gain important information about the origin and evolution of the universe through the background of relic gravitons.