Renormalization Group approaches to quantum gravity

by Astrid Eichhorn (Perimeter Institute)

Monday 31 Mar 2014, 16:30 → 17:30 Europe/Berlin

seminar room 2, building 2a (DESY Hamburg)

I will discuss the Renormalization Group as a useful tool in different quantum gravity models: Constructing a quantum field theory of the metric, the Renormalization Group can be used to investigate asymptotically safe quantum gravity. I will explain how the coupling to matter gives us a way to test this model: Too many dynamical matter degrees of freedom can destroy the fixed point underlying asymptotic safety. Testing beyond-Standard-Model scenarios at the LHC, and discovering new particles could therefore potentially rule out asymptotically safe gravity. In a second part I will explain how the Renormalization Group can be used in discrete approaches to quantum gravity, such as matrix and tensor models, where it provides a way to search for the continuum limit.

Slides Eichhorn.pdf