Archive of IAS Monday High Energy Theory Seminars

Abstract: I will discuss the path integral of pure 3D gravity on a finite region of spacetime, with boundary conditions that fix dihedral angles or geodesic lengths. This amplitude calculates corrections to the Gaussian statistics of OPE...

Abstract: Symmetries play a crucial role in both quantum field theory and quantum many-body systems on the lattice. One key topological feature that a global symmetry can have is a "('t Hooft) anomaly". But how exactly should an anomaly be defined...

Abstract: Theories comprehensively addressing the origin and robustness of the observed hierarchical structure of particle physics face significant challenges from the non-appearance of new particles, explicitly in LHC searches or virtually within...

Abstract: Powerful techniques have been developed in quantum field theory that employ algebras of local operators, yet local operators cannot create physical charged states in gauge theory or physical nonzero-energy states in perturbative quantum...

Abstract: AI progress is accelerating, and now the leaders expect “artificial general intelligence” (AGI) in 2 to 3 years. While difficult to believe, we must prepare for the possibility. We can take some lessons from previous episodes in which...

Abstract: I will start with a broad overview of the theory of initial conditions of the universe, what we know and what we hope to know in the near future.

Then I will describe some recent work. Motivated by precision calculations in primordial...

Abstract: On general grounds one expects that global symmetries are absent in quantum gravity. We discuss some aspects of this issue, focusing on the recently proposed Swampland Cobordism Conjecture, and related conjectures connected with...

Abstract: Correlation functions of the average null energy operator provide direct theoretical models of collider experiments, and have played a crucial role in contemporary developments in formal QFT and gravity. Recently it has become possible to...

Abstract: In the search for simple, solvable models of quantum cosmology it is useful to focus on general relativity in 2+1 dimensions, where - due to the absence of local degrees of freedom - there is some hope that we can say something precise.  I...

Abstract: Muon colliders offer a unique path to multi-TeV, high-luminosity lepton collisions. Muon collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 10 TeV or above would offer significant discovery potential where the constituent collision energies exceed...