Research on General Relativity and Quantum Fluctuations

这个项目将涉及与量子理论和引力相关的几个主题的理论研究。将特别强调与量子涨落有关的现象，包括时空几何涨落的操作意义，量子张量涨落的概率分布，应力张量涨落在暴涨中的作用，以及卡西米尔力的某些方面。这个项目试图将对引力场的量子性质的研究与对波动电磁力的研究结合起来。希望这种类型的调查将导致对这两类现象的更深入了解。预计该项目将对科学、教育和技术的其他领域产生更广泛的影响。它将需要国际合作，从而有助于与其他国家的研究人员建立联系。这项工作的洞察力和技术在正在研究的物理学特定子领域之外可能是有用的。该项目将通过培训研究生和主要教学机构的教员参与来进一步教育。它还应该提供一些例子，可以用来向不同教育水平的学生解释量子理论和相对论的一些概念。关于卡西米尔力的工作最终可能在纳米技术中有用，在纳米技术中，对卡西米尔力的更好了解很可能对建造小规模设备变得重要。

This project will involve theoretical research on several topics related to quantum theory and gravitation. There will be special emphasis on phenomena related to quantum fluctuations including the operational meaning of spacetime geometry fluctuations, the probability distribution of quantumstress tensor fluctuations, the role of stress tensor fluctuations in inflation, and selected aspects of the Casimir force. This project seeks to integrate studies of the quantum nature of the gravitational field with studies of fluctuating electromagnetic forces. It is hoped that this type of investigation will lead to a deeper understanding of both types of phenomena. This project is expected to have a broader impact through possible benefits to other fields of science, to education, and to technology. It will entail international collaborations, and hence help to forge links with researchers in other countries. The insights and techniques of this work may be useful outside of the specific subfields of physics being investigated. The project will further education through the training of graduate students and by the involvement of faculty at primarily teaching institutions. It should also produce examples which can be used to explain some of the concepts of quantum theory and relativity to students on a variety of educational levels. The work on Casimir forces may eventually be useful in nanotechnology where a better knowledge of Casimir forces is likely to become important for the construction of small scale devices.