Quantum Gravity, Atom Condensate Analogs, and Beyond

量子引力、原子凝聚类似物及其他

基本信息

批准号：
2012139
负责人：
Theodore Jacobson
金额：
$ 47.46万
依托单位：
University of Maryland, College Park
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Continuing Grant
财政年份：
2020
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2020-07-01 至 2024-06-30
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2012139&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Quantum Gravity Atom Condensate Analogs

项目摘要

The grant will support research projects on several aspects of gravitational physics, ranging from astrophysical to laboratory analogs to quantum gravity. These projects are aimed at: 1) learning more about the magnetic physics involved in the powerful processes accelerating particles around black holes and neutron stars, which could assist in the interpretation of observations of such sources made with various sorts of telescopes; 2) exploring a mechanism by which neutron stars might source a hypothetical "axion" field, which is a candidate for solving a theoretical puzzle of nuclear physics and is a candidate for the "missing mass" (a.k.a. "dark matter") in the Universe; 3) working with experimentalists to study close analogies between the physics of ultra cold atomic condensates and the behavior of quantum fields in the expanding universe and the Hawking radiation from black holes. This work can stimulate new insights into the properties of atom condensates, and provide laboratory confirmation and perspectives on otherwise purely theoretical fundamental theory; 4) approach the unsolved problem of reconciling Einstein's curved spacetime theory of gravity with the principles of quantum physics. The first three of these project categories include significant interdisciplinary connections to astrophysics, plasma physics, and atomic physics, which may enhance synergy between different research communities and methods, and therefore stimulate progress in scientific understanding. The results of the proposed research will be disseminated through written articles, as well as seminars, conference talks, and colloquia. The PI will provide instruction and mentoring to graduate and undergraduate students, regarding scientific research, writing, and verbal communication. The PI will design and implement instruction in a University of Maryland summer programs for rising 9th graders and for high school girls interested in physics. All of these activities will contribute to technical training and scientific literacy, as well as understanding and appreciation of the insights of physics.Specific research topics in category 1) above include a sharp formulation of magnetic helicity of twisted magnetic field lines in a general relativistic setting, and in the presence of boundaries such as the surface of a neutron star or the horizon of a black hole, and the impact of cyclotron motion on the stagnation surface, which defines the boundary between the charges that are gravitationally pulled to the black hole or neutron star and the charges that are flung outward along magnetic field lines by centrifugal force. Research under 2) aims to discover new ways of observing or constraining an axion field by studying the consequences of copious axion production sourced outside neutron stars, first analytically, and potentially later in numerical simulations with a computational collaborator. The hypothesis that such axion fields are implicated in fast radio bursts will also be explored. In category 3), one project will quantify the effect of variations in the number of condensate atoms on laboratory measurements of the correlation function associated with Hawking radiation. This is necessary in order to interpret those observations. Another project will analyze the theory and upcoming observations of mode modulation (analog Hubble friction) in expanding Bose-Einstein condensates. A third project in this area will explore approaches to experimental measurement of phonon or magnon creation in analog expanding universes. Observations might be possible within the time frame of the award. Finally, one goal of the research under 4) is to develop understanding of quasi-localized quantum gravity, using exact quantization of the 2+1 dimensional theory with a negative cosmological constant, within a spacetime region that is the causal domain of dependence of a disk with a fixed boundary metric. Another is to learn how to apply perturbative renormalized quantum gravity near horizons, to determine whether, as has long been suspected, gravitational interactions quench two point correlation functions when one of the points approaches a horizon.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.

该赠款将支持有关引力物理学几个方面的研究项目，从天体物理到实验室类似物到量子重力。这些项目的目的是：1）更多有关在黑洞和中子恒星周围加速粒子中涉及的磁物理学的更多信息，这可以有助于解释对各种望远镜制成的这些来源的观察； 2）探索一种机制，通过该机制，中子恒星可能会采用假设的“轴”领域，该机构是解决核物理学理论难题的候选者，并且是宇宙中“缺失质量”（又称“暗物质”）的候选者； 3）与实验者一起研究超冷原子冷凝物物理学与扩展宇宙中量子场的行为与黑洞的霍金辐射。这项工作可以激发对原子冷凝物特性的新见解，并就原本纯粹的理论基本理论提供实验室确认和观点。 4）处理将爱因斯坦弯曲的时空重力理论与量子物理学原理调和的未解决问题。这些项目类别的前三个包括与天体物理学，等离子体物理学和原子物理学的显着跨学科联系，这可能会增强不同的研究群落和方法之间的协同作用，从而刺激科学理解中的进步。拟议研究的结果将通过书面文章以及研讨会，会议演讲和校长来传播。 PI将向研究生和本科生提供有关科学研究，写作和口头交流的指导和指导。 PI将在马里兰大学的夏季计划中设计和实施指导，适用于上升的9年级学生和对物理感兴趣的高中女生。 All of these activities will contribute to technical training and scientific literacy, as well as understanding and appreciation of the insights of physics.Specific research topics in category 1) above include a sharp formulation of magnetic helicity of twisted magnetic field lines in a general relativistic setting, and in the presence of boundaries such as the surface of a neutron star or the horizon of a black hole, and the impact of cyclotron motion on the stagnation surface, which defines the boundary between重力将电荷拉到黑洞或中子恒星，以及通过离心力向外沿磁场线向外撞击的电荷。 2）旨在通过研究中性恒星外出的大量轴轴生产的后果来发现观察或限制轴突领域的新方法，首先是分析性的，并且有可能与计算合作者进行数值模拟。还将探讨有关此类斧头场与快速无线电爆发有关的假设。在第3类）中，一个项目将量化冷凝物原子数量变化对与鹰辐射相关的相关功能的实验室测量的影响。为了解释这些观察，这是必要的。另一个项目将分析在扩展Bose-Einstein冷凝物中模式调制（模拟哈勃摩擦）的理论和即将进行的观察。该领域的第三个项目将探讨在模拟扩展宇宙中对声子或镁创造的实验测量方法。在奖励的时间范围内可能可以进行观察。最后，研究下的一个目标是在时空区域内使用具有负宇宙常数的2+1维理论的精确量化，这是磁盘依赖性的因果域，它具有带有固定边界指标的依赖性的原因。 Another is to learn how to apply perturbative renormalized quantum gravity near horizons, to determine whether, as has long been suspected, gravitational interactions quench two point correlation functions when one of the points approaches a horizon.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.