Events

Title: “3d quantum gravity and Virasoro TQFT”

Abstract: In the study of quantum gravity we often seek solvable toy models as theoretical laboratories where fundamental questions can be addressed exactly. The solubility of these models is often facilitated by an equivalent description in terms of non-gravitating degrees of freedom. In this talk I will discuss the quantization of one of the simplest theories of gravity, three-dimensional Einstein gravity with negative cosmological constant. In particular I will describe a precise reformulation of AdS_3 quantum gravity in terms of a novel topological quantum field theory known as “Virasoro TQFT.” This proposal clarifies the relationship between pure AdS_3 quantum gravity and (two copies of) SL(2,R) Chern-Simons theory, and resolves some well-known issues with this lore. I will argue that moreover this proposal provides a practical framework for the computation of 3d gravity partition functions, and will describe how it elucidates various aspects of the holographic dual.

Bio: Scott Collier is a senior postdoctoral associate at MIT’s Center for Theoretical Physics. Previously he was a center fellow at the Princeton Center for Theoretical Sciences, after completing his PhD at Harvard University in 2020. He is broadly interested in non-perturbative aspects of quantum field theory and quantum gravity. He has worked extensively on the conformal bootstrap and low-dimensional quantum gravity. His recent work has focused on the role of spacetime wormholes, disorder averaging and quantum chaos in holographic dualities.

Monday, October 2, 2023 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM