Classical and quantum cosmological topologically massive gravity

01.02.2010 - 31.01.2013
Research funding project
The elusive theory of quantum gravity is often called "the holy grail of theoretical physics". Of all the attempts to quantize gravity, string theory is the best developed theory, but it is still poorly understood and poorly supported by experiment. Thus, it is prudent to consider simpler approaches to quantum gravity, where results can be expected on a reasonable time-scale. Lower-dimensional models of gravity provide such an approach. In the past 20 years studies of 2-dimensional gravity led to numerous exciting results for classical and quantum black holes. However, the simplicity of these black hole models eliminates two important features of higher-dimensional gravity: they do not contain gravitons, and they lack a good analog for the horizon area of black holes. Both these deficiencies can be remedied by considering a suitable model of gravity in three dimensions. The construction of a consistent theory of quantum gravity in three dimensions is the main goal of the project.

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Grant funds

  • FWF - Österr. Wissenschaftsfonds (National) Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

Research focus

  • Beyond TUW-research focus: 100%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
Quantengraviationquantum gravity
niedrigdimensionale ModelleLower-dimensional models
AdS/CFTAdS/CFT
logarythmische CFTlogarithmic CFT

Publications