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Heinrich-Fabri-Institut, Blaubeuren
Hörsaal
conference
28/07/2005 01/08/2005

Workshop on Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Quantum Gravity

This workshop on "Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Quantum Gravity" is the follow-up to the first Blaubeuren workshop in 2003. The idea of this series of meetings is to spark a discussion between mathematicians and physicists proposing different approaches to a particular topic. In view of this goal, emphasis is put on a broad view on the topic rather than on latest results or technicalities. The concept of the workshop is such that the morning lectures will outline the status quo and describe the main achievements while the afternoon lectures will focus on open problems and more speculative material.
The 2005 Workshop is dedicated to the syntactical and semantic meaning of the term "Quantum Gravity". It seems fair to say that this notion is not yet well-defined. However, there are different mathematical and physical approches to make this notion more precise. A gathering of experts from some of these approches will provide an opportunity to push forward questions like: What are the mathematical tools, physical intentions, prejudices, preconceptions, and expectations in the area of quantum gravity? Do we have a clear understanding of what we mean by this term?
The workshop will focus on discussing string theory, quantization of gravity as described by Wheeler De Witt, loop quantum gravity (including higher categorial structures and topoi) and non-commutative geometry. Each of these fields has its merits and shortcomings and each is physically motivated by its own philosophy and mathematical tools. By bringing together the different perspectives of these approaches we hope to facilitate new insights and a fresh look at both old and new questions in the area of quantum gravity. The expected experimental effects of quantum gravity will also be discussed.
The number of talks is restricted to 5 to 6 per day, presented by distinguished experts in the respective fields. Since one of the express aims of the workshop is to stimulate discussion across the different fields represented, speakers are asked to deliver review-like talks with a perspective to facilitate open discussion in the plenum. We are proud to say that the last, 2003 workshop ended with an extraordinarily lively and stimulating 1 1/2 hour discussion! Drawing on the expertise and the interactive spirit of the workshop participants we expect a similar atmosphere with open and fruitful discussions during the 2005 workshop.

Modalities

  • Participation is by invitation only. If you are interested, please contact the organizers (see email addresses above, or use the registration link below. It is intended to provide substantial financial support.
  • The total number of participants is restricted to 40, there will be slots for about 15 - 18 talks. Participants who do not deliver a talk are still expected to actively join the discussions.
  • Each talk is scheduled at 1 hour including sufficient time for extensive discussions.
  • Production of proceedings volume are intended, if possible including the contents of the discussion

Program

07:00 - 18:30
18:30 - 19:30
07:30 - 08:30
08:45 - 09:00
09:00 - 09:45 Claus Lämmerzahl (ZARM, Bremen, Germany)
How can we search for quantum gravity effects?
10:00 - 10:45 Claus Kiefer (Universität zu Köln, Köln, Germany)
Quantum gravity - What are the problems?
10:45 - 11:15
11:15 - 12:00 Stefan Theisen (AEI, Golm, Germany)
Stringtheory: Facts and expectations
12:30 - 13:30
13:30 - 15:00
15:00 - 15:45 Thomas Mohaupt (Universität Jena, Jena, Germany)
Strings, higher curvature corrections, and black hole entropy
16:00 - 16:45 Kishore Marathe (CUNY, New York, USA)
Quantume Fields and Geometric Topology
16:45 - 17:15
17:15 - 18:00 Domenico Giulini (Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany)
On the role and determination of mapping-class groups in canonical quantum gravity
18:30 - 19:30
07:30 - 08:30
09:00 - 09:45 Abhay Ashtekar (Penn State, University Park, USA)
Physics and Mathematics of Loop Quantum Gravity
10:00 - 10:45 Daniele Oriti (University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom)
Quantum gravity as quantum field theory of simplicial geometry?
10:45 - 11:15
11:15 - 12:00 Louis Kauffman (University of Chicago, Chicago, USA)
Spin Networks, Anyonic Topological Quantum Computing and Quantum Gravity
12:30 - 13:30
13:30 - 16:45
16:45 - 17:15
17:15 - 18:00 Samson Abramsky (University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom)
Abstract Quantum Mechanics
18:30 - 19:30
07:30 - 08:30
09:00 - 09:45 Shahn Majid (Queen Mary, University of London, London, United Kingdom)
Quantum gravity on finite sets
10:00 - 10:45 Klaus Fredenhagen (Universität Hamburg and DESY, Hamburg, Germany)
A background independent perturbative approach to quantum gravity
10:45 - 11:15
11:15 - 12:00 Harald Grosse (Universität Wien, Wien, Austria)
Noncommutative Quantum Field theory and Renormalization
12:30 - 13:30
13:30 - 15:00
15:00 - 15:45 Ludwik Dabrowski (SISSA-ISAS, Trieste, Italy)
On Noncommutative Differential Geometry and General Relativity
16:00 - 16:45 Jouko Mickelsson (Royal Institut of Technology KTH, Stockholm, Sweden)
From quantum field theory to gerbes and twisted K-theory
16:45 - 17:15
17:15 - 18:00 Robin Tucker (Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom)
Gravitational Waves and Energy-Momentum Quanta
18:30 - 19:30
19:30 - 20:30
07:30 - 08:30
08:30 - 08:40

Participants

Samson Abramsky

Abhay Ashtekar

Matthias Blau

Ludwik Dabrowski

Tekin Dereli

Jürgen Ehlers

Bertfried Fauser

Felix Finster

Christian Fleischhack

Klaus Fredenhagen

Domenico Giulini

Harald Grosse

Allen Hirshfeld

Louis Kauffman

Claus Kiefer

Claus Lämmerzahl

Dennis Lehmkuhl

Regine Lübke

Alfredo Macias

Shahn Majid

Kishore Marathe

Jouko Mickelsson

Thomas Mohaupt

Olaf Müller

Gregory Naber

Daniele Oriti

Mario Paschke

Hartmann Römer

Dirk Saller

Martin Schottenloher

Stefan Theisen

Torsten Thumstädter

Jürgen Tolksdorf

Robin Tucker

Rüdiger Vaas

Eberhard Zeidler

Scientific Organizers

Jürgen Tolksdorf

Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften

Bertfried Fauser

Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften

Eberhard Zeidler

Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften

Administrative Contact

Jürgen Tolksdorf

Bertfried Fauser