Quantum Gravity: Phenomenological and Theoretical Aspects

被称为量子引力(QG)的引力场量子理论的成功公式仍然是理论物理最重要的挑战之一。宇宙学的相关领域也提出了一些关于我们宇宙的起源、进化和命运的最基本的问题。虽然QG有各种有前途的理论(如超弦理论、圈量子引力等)，但就我们所知，还没有一个实验或观测清楚地支持或驳斥任何理论。尽管这通常归因于直接获取普朗克能级的巨大和相关的困难，但我们相信，目前的实验精度和不久的将来可能能够在至少一些基于实验室的实验中检测到这样的实验特征。在2012-2017年间，我想通过研究一系列可能显示其中一些特征的量子系统和现象来详细研究这一方面。正如QG的各种理论所预测的那样，这些问题预计将来自对支配这些系统的量子哈密顿的具体修正。没有任何可测量的签名在预测各种QG参数的重要界限时也是有用的。 我还想研究黑洞物理学的各个方面，特别是与其熵、霍金辐射和相关的信息丢失问题有关的那些方面(黑洞是强引力的致密物体，充当测试各种QG理论的‘理论实验室’)。 最后，与一位实验者合作，我还想研究基于实验室的实验，以测试修正的牛顿动力学(MOND)类型的理论，这些理论是暗物质假说的有趣和可行的替代方案。 在这个研究项目中，有相当大的创新和合作空间，并有机会培养一批高素质的人员，包括本科生和研究生以及博士后研究员。

A successful formulation of a quantum theory of the gravitational field, known as Quantum Gravity (QG), remains as one of the foremost challenges of theoretical physics. The related area of cosmology also poses some of the most fundamental problems about the origin, evolution and fate of our universe. While there are various promising theories of QG (such as superstring theory, loop quantum gravity etc), there has not been a single experiment or observation to our knowledge which clearly supports or refutes any theory. Although this is normally attributed to the immensity of, and the related difficulty of directly accessing the Planck energy scale, we believe current experimental accuracies and those in the near future may be able to detect such experimental signatures in at least some laboratory based experiments. During 2012-2017, I would like to examine this aspect in detail, by studying a host of quantum systems and phenomena which may potentially show some of these signatures. These are expected to arise from specific corrections to quantum Hamiltonians governing these systems, as predicted by various theories of QG. Absence of any measurable signatures would also be useful in predicting important bounds on various QG parameters. I would also like to examine aspects of Black Hole Physics, especially those related to its entropy, Hawking radiation and the related information loss problem (black holes being strongly gravitating compact objects, serve as `theoretical laboratories' for testing various QG theories). Finally, in collaboration with an experimentalist, I would also like to study laboratory based experiments to test Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) type theories, which serve as interesting and viable alternatives to the Dark Matter hypothesis. There is considerable scope for innovation, collaboration and the opportunity to train a number of Highly Qualified Personnel, including undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, in this research program.