Events at 402 Physics South Hall, Campus

Abstract:  Wilsonian effective theories are valid for low energy experiments. Semiclassical gravity, while an effective theory, seems different, requiring more than a low energy restriction: experiments also cannot be too complex. The formalism for such a low-complexity effective theory is much less understood. In this talk I’ll present progress closing this gap, developing models of novel low-complexity effective theories.

Abstract: The finite N BPS spectrum of the symmetric orbifold CFT of K3 contains “polar” states below the black hole threshold whose holographic origin has remained unclear. We propose a bulk prescription for computing these degeneracies exactly at finite N, given by a sum over one-loop partition functions of the IIB theory on spectrally-flowed (AdS3 x S3)/Z_K x K3 orbifold … Read More

The inherent noise in the intensity of light from astrophysical sources imprints correlations in photon arrival times, forming the very signal of intensity interferometry. Recent technological advances are reviving intensity interferometers as capable tools for high-precision astronomical measurements. I will propose a technique called the “expanding ejecta method” (EEM) to determine angular diameter distances to supernovae based purely on geometry, … Read More