Holography, Black Holes, and Conformal Field Theory

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I propose to investigate foundational questions at the interface of particle physics, gravitation, and cosmology. I will focus on basic conceptual puzzles in quantum gravity and quantum field theory, and in particular on problems related to the physics of black holes and conformal field theory. To address these questions I will use the holographic principle, our most powerful tool in the study of quantum gravity. Many of the deepest questions in theoretical physics involve black holes. What is the nature of a black hole event horizon? Do black holes destroy information? Previous attempts to address these questions have focused only on special classes of black holes, which differ qualitatively from those relevant for astrophysics. This shortcoming must be addressed if we are to understand the dynamics of realistic black holes, such as the one at the center of our galaxy. Many of the same questions arise in cosmology. Astronomical observations indicate that the universe began with a big bang singularity followed by a period of inflation, but in order to understand the very early universe we need a fully quantum theory of cosmology. We need new tools and techniques that will enable us to make sense of quantum gravity in regimes where general relativity breaks down. The most useful such tool is the holographic correspondence (or holography), which states that quantum gravity in a region of space is equivalent to a theory on the boundary of that region. In its most precise form, known as the Anti-de Sitter/Conformal Field Theory (AdS/CFT) correspondence, holography has allowed us to address these previously unsolvable problems in an exact manner. This has led to a remarkable relationship between the physics of black holes and that of conformal field theories (CFTs). CFTs are the basic building blocks of quantum field theory, and describe many of the most important models of particle, nuclear and condensed matter physics. I propose to apply powerful non-perturbative techniques inspired by holography and black hole physics to the study of conformal field theories. I also propose, conversely, to use insights and techniques from conformal field theory to study some of the deepest and most pressing questions in quantum gravity. The resulting cross-fertilization of ideas from different fields of research is one of the long-term goals of my research program. This will allow us to address some of the most fundamental and long-standing problems in theoretical physics - those concerning the basic structure of space-time and the origin of our observable universe from a big bang singularity.