Research in Gravitational Physics

该奖项与引力物理学领域的广泛研究有关。其中一些研究涉及在试图建立量子引力理论的过程中出现的问题，例如涉及“宇宙波函数”计算的问题。其他项目包括研究强引力场对物质量子特性的影响，比如某些正能量特性在重力存在下继续保持的程度。还有一些研究项目涉及广义相对论中经典引力场的性质和特性。后者的一些项目——比如确定与物体发射引力辐射有关的力——对天体物理学和宇宙学有直接的影响。虽然提议的研究包括许多不同领域的广泛主题，但研究的主要目标有一个共同的主题：对广义相对论所描述的引力场的数学和物理性质有更深入的了解，并朝着引力量子理论的表述和发展取得进展。量子引力理论的发展是目前理论物理学基础研究的前沿。

This award is concerned with a broad range of research ingravitational physics. Some of the research deals with issues that havearisen in attempts to formulate a quantum theory of gravity, such asissues involved in the calculation of the "wavefunction of the universe".Other projects involve investigation of the effects of stronggravitational fields on the quantum properties of matter, such as theextent to which certain positive energy properties continue to hold in thepresence of gravity. Yet other research projects concern the nature andproperties of classical gravitational fields in the theory of generalrelativity. Some of the latter projects---such as the determination offorces on bodies associated with their emission of gravitationalradiation---have direct implications for astrophysics and cosmology.Although the proposed research includes a wide range of topics ina number of different areas, there is a common theme to the main goals ofthe research: To obtain a deeper understanding of the mathematical andphysical properties of the gravitational field as described by the theoryof general relativity, and to make progress toward the formulation anddevelopment of a quantum theory of gravity. The development of a quantumtheory of gravity is currently at the forefront of fundamental research intheoretical physics.