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Research on Quantum Fluctuation Effects and Gravity

量子涨落效应与引力研究

基本信息

批准号：
1912545
负责人：
Lawrence Ford
金额：
$ 15万
依托单位：
Tufts University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Continuing Grant
财政年份：
2019
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2019-08-01 至 2022-07-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1912545&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Research Quantum Fluctuation Effects Gravity

项目摘要

This award supports studies of large quantum energy density fluctuations and their physical effects. These fluctuations are more likely than was previously expected, and their study could lead to new insights into both quantum physics and gravitation. Large energy density fluctuations can lead to large fluctuations of spacetime geometry, which is an aspect of quantum gravity. This work can help clarify the relation between relativity theory and quantum theory, which is major unsolved problem in fundamental physics. It may also help understand the processes in the early history of our universe, such as phase transitions and black hole nucleation. The project will also study analog models in condensed matter systems, such as light propagation in nonlinear optical materials and density fluctuations in liquids. The results may have application to other areas of science and possibly to technology. The project will contribute to education through the participation of students, and development of new ways to explain subtle concepts to students.This research will study probability distributions for spacetime averaged quantum stress tensors, and their physical applications. These distributions have been shown to fall relatively slowly, leading to a relatively large probability of large fluctuations. The details of this effect will be studied in more detail through a combination of analytic and numerical methods. The physical implications of the large fluctuations will also be studied. These may include increased rates of false vacuum decay, which will have implications for the study of phase transitions in the early universe, and nucleation of primordial black holes. Analog models, such as quantum density fluctuations in fluids, will also be studied. Here the probability distribution is expected to be similar to those for quantum stress tensor fluctuations, and may be accessible to experimental investigation. The role of large quantum stress tensor fluctuations in producing passive fluctuations of gravity and their effects will also be studied.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该奖项支持大量子能量密度波动及其物理效应的研究。这些波动比以前预期的更有可能，他们的研究可能会导致对量子物理和引力的新见解。大的能量密度起伏会导致时空几何的大起伏，这是量子引力的一个方面。这一工作有助于澄清相对论与量子理论之间的关系，这是基础物理学中尚未解决的重大问题。它还可能有助于理解我们宇宙早期历史的过程，例如相变和黑洞成核。该项目还将研究凝聚态系统中的模拟模型，例如非线性光学材料中的光传播和液体中的密度波动。这些结果可能应用于其他科学领域，甚至可能应用于技术领域。该项目将通过学生的参与和开发向学生解释微妙概念的新方法来促进教育。该研究将研究时空平均量子应力张量的概率分布及其物理应用。这些分布已被证明下降相对缓慢，导致较大波动的概率相对较大。将通过分析和数值方法相结合，更详细地研究这种影响的细节。还将研究大波动的物理影响。这些可能包括增加的假真空衰变率，这将对早期宇宙的相变研究和原始黑洞的成核产生影响。模拟模型，如流体中的量子密度波动，也将进行研究。在这里的概率分布预计是类似的量子应力张量波动，并可能获得实验研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。