Harnessing Quantum Field Theory For Gravity

The grand objectives of this research program extend from delivering analytical high-precision predictions
for real-world gravitational-wave data, to developing our fundamental understanding of gravity from the
smallest quantum to the largest cosmological scales. In other words: How far and deep can we push
precision computation in gravity? And what does it fundamentally tell us about gravity theory and its
resolution with the quantum world?
This program uniquely addresses the timely high demand for accurate theoretical templates of gravitational
waveforms from two merging compact objects, such as black holes. Pushing the precision frontier for
gravitational waves is one of the most urgent tasks in theoretical physics today, in light of the increasing
influx of data from a rapidly growing worldwide network of gravitational-wave detectors. The program
builds on my unique expertise in both quantum field theory and gravity to analytically predict gravitational
radiation from such compact binaries, and to further develop the powerful use of quantum field theory
advances to study gravity, where I have played a crucial role.
This innovative development of ideas and methods from the realm of particle physics to study fundamental
concepts in gravity theories leads us to uncover profound duality relations between gauge and gravity
theories, and to expose universal commonalities across classical and quantum field theories. In light of its
far-reaching objectives and its non-traditional nature, this research program, which links traditionally
disparate branches of physics, has a high potential for crossover conceptual impact across theoretical and
experimental physics.