Harnessing Quantum Field Theory For Gravity
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Mathematical Institute
Abstract
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.
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.
People |
ORCID iD |
Michèle Levi (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Edison A
(2023)
A tale of tails through generalized unitarity
in Physics Letters B
Levi
(2023)
A Theory of Theories
in CERN Cour.
Levi M
(2023)
Completing the fifth PN precision frontier via the EFT of spinning gravitating objects
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Levi M
(2023)
From the EFT of spinning gravitating objects to Poincaré and gauge invariance at the 4.5PN precision frontier
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Kim Jung-Wook
(2023)
N$^3$LO quadratic-in-spin interactions for generic compact binaries
in JHEP
Kim Jung-Wook
(2023)
N$^3$LO spin-orbit interaction via the EFT of spinning gravitating objects
in JHEP
Kim J
(2022)
Quadratic-in-spin interactions at fifth post-Newtonian order probe new physics
in Physics Letters B
Description | Alex Edison |
Organisation | Uppsala University |
Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration with postdoc, resulted 1 joint publication within 1st reporting period |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration with PI/fellow, resulted 1 joint publication within 1st reporting period |
Impact | Publication: A tale of tails through generalized unitarity, Edison, Alex; Levi, Michèle arXiv:2202.04674 |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Jung-Wook Kim |
Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration with postdoc; resulted in 1 joint publication within 1st reporting period + 2 joint publications within 2nd reporting period |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration with fellow/PI; resulted in 1 joint publication within 1st reporting period + 2 joint publications within 2nd reporting period |
Impact | 1 + 2 joint publications as detailed in the publications outcomes |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Roger Morales |
Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
Department | Niels Bohr Institute |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration with past masters student; resulted in 1 joint publication within 2nd reporting period |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration with fellow/PI; resulted in 1 joint publication within 2nd reporting period |
Impact | 1 joint publication as listed in the publications outcomes |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Zhewei Yin |
Organisation | Uppsala University |
Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration with postdoc; resulted in 1 joint publication within 1st reporting period + 4 joint publications within 2nd reporting period |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration with PI/fellow; resulted in 1 joint publication within 1st reporting period + 4 joint publications within 2nd reporting period |
Impact | 1+4 publications as listed in the publications outcomes |
Start Year | 2022 |