Research in Theoretical Cosmology, Quantum and Classical Gravity

该奖项支持的工作位于引力论和基本粒子理论的交叉点，在那里发现了许多物理学和宇宙学的前沿问题。前沿本质上不愿进行整齐的分类，但这个研究项目有几个主题：宇宙学的谜团，特别是观察到的宇宙加速膨胀；量子引力的性质，这是更全面地理解这个宇宙的最大单一障碍；以及一系列更技术性的研究，它们的阐明将有助于解开上述两个谜团。像这一奖项所支持的那些基础研究的广泛影响是打开了人类的智力视野。尽管在过去的几个世纪里，支配宇宙的定律一直在稳步建立，但现在有可能取得突破，因为人们首次在整个宇宙范围内观察到了宇宙。

The work supported by this award lies at the intersection of gravitational theory and elementary particle theory, where many of the frontier problems of physics and cosmology are found. Frontiers are intrinsically resistant to neat categorization, but several themes characterize this research program: The enigmas of cosmology, particularly the observed accelerated expansion of the universe; the nature of quantum gravity, the biggest single hurdle to a fuller understanding of this universe, and a set of more technical studies whose elucidation would help in resolving the above twin mysteries. The broad impact of fundamental investigation such as those supported by this award is to open humanity's intellectual horizons. While the laws governing the universe have been steadily built up over the last few centuries, breakthroughs may be possible now as the universe is observed across its entire scale for the very first time.