Francesco Sannino: Living on the Edge – Black Holes as Quantum Gravity Lampposts
DIAS lecture by Professor Francesco Sannino, DIAS Chair of Physics, Head of the Quantum Field Theory Center, Founder of the Centre for Cosmology and Particle Physics Phenomenology (CP³-Origins) at SDU. The lecture takes place in the DIAS Auditorium and is open to all. Abstract We live in an era marked by the LIGO Laboratory discovery of gravitational waves, emitted when two black holes coalesce, and the Event Horizon Telescope imaging of black holes. While these amazing discoveries crystallise Einstein’s theory of general relativity they also beg for a fresh look at the problem of unifying gravity and quantum field theory. These two theories constitute our current understanding of Nature but are notoriously at odds with each other. I will first review basic facts about black holes and then argue in favour of a recent approach that aims at shortcutting the problem of the absence of a theory of quantum gravity. This will be achieved by introducing a quantum gravity model independent approach focussed on effective metric descriptions of quantum black holes. We believe that our findings will herald novel ways to explore quantum corrections to black hole dynamics with impact for our understanding of the fabric of space time. About Francesco Sannino Francesco Sannino is the Head of the Quantum Field Theory Center, the Founder of the Centre for Cosmology and Particle Physics Phenomenology (CP³-Origins) at SDU. He is also one of the Founders of the Danish IAS and Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Federico II University in Italy. Professor Francesco Sannino is widely recognized for having pioneered the analytical and numerical investigations of the conformal structure of gauge theories of fundamental interactions, for the construction of minimal composite extensions of the standard model, and for the recent discovery of four-dimensional asymptotically safe theories. Recently he has also applied and developed mathematical tools stemming from theoretical physics to describe the evolution of infectious diseases at human and viral level. His work crosses several realms of particle physics and cosmology from bright and dark extensions of the standard model and inflationary cosmology to the mathematical underpinning of theories of fundamental interactions.
IMADA Talks
Want to know what is going on behind the scenes at IMADA? Come and join us for 2 x 20 min. inspiring talks while you enjoy a free “casual after-work” beer with your fellow student, colleague or teacher. Speakers will be announced ASAP, but mark your calendar now!
David Woolner - Franklin Roosevelt, Niels Bohr, and the Atomic Bomb – some unanswered questions about a dying president in his last 100 days
On April 12, 1945, a stunned world learned that Franklin D. Roosevelt, the leader who had brought the United States through the two great crises of the twentieth century, was dead. Responding to this shocking development, the Danish physicist, Niels Bohr, expressed the view that it seemed impossible to believe that “the great man, upon whom more than anyone else, the hopes of humanity were centered” was gone. What Bohr and the rest of the public did not realize, of course, was that by the spring of 1945 Franklin Roosevelt was a dying man. What’s more, his sudden disappearance from the world stage at this critical moment meant that leader who had orchestrated the alliance that would go on to defeat the forces of fascism and set the stage for the successful creation of the United Nations would not be there to witness these historic developments. Nor would he be present when his government faced one of the most daunting decisions made in human history—the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Roosevelt’s absence at the dawn of the nuclear age has raised several questions about what might have happened had he lived long enough to witness the successful development of the atomic bomb. Would Roosevelt—whose knowledge of and involvement in the making of the atomic bomb was far more extensive than President Truman’s—have followed the same course of action? Or might FDR have pursued an alternative strategy for ending the war, through negotiation or a demonstration of the atomic bomb’s awesome power. Equally significant, might he have ultimately taken Bohr’s advice and shared the atomic secret with the Russians in such a way as to gain their confidence and perhaps avoid the onset of the nuclear arms race that stood at the heart of the Cold War? As discussed in this presentation, a close examination of FDR’s last 100 days in office offers some interesting clues as to what Roosevelt might have done had he lived long enough to bring the most destructive war in history to an end. About David B. Woolner: David B. Woolner is Professor of History and Kovler Foundation Fellow of Roosevelt Studies at Marist College; Senior Fellow and Resident Historian of the Roosevelt Institute; and Senior Fellow of the Center for Civic Engagement at Bard College. He is the author of The Last 100 Days: FDR at War and at Peace (Basic Books, 2017), is editor/co-editor of five books, and served as historical advisor to the Ken Burns films The Roosevelts: An Intimate History and The US and the Holocaust and for numerous special exhibitions at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum. Dr. Woolner is the recipient of the Fulbright Denmark Distinguished Scholar Award in American Studies at the University of Southern Denmark (2023-2024) and was recently named a Fulbright Specialist for the years 2021-2025 by the US Department of State’s Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs. From 2000-2010, Dr. Woolner served as the Roosevelt Institute’s Executive Director, overseeing a significant expansion of the organization’s budget, programmatic dimension and staff. He earned his Ph. D. and M.A. in history from McGill University and a B.A. summa cum laude in English Literature and History from the University of Minnesota. The lecture takes place in the DIAS Auditorium at Fioniavej 34. Everybody is welcome and no registration is needed.
IMADA Talks
Want to know what is going on behind the scenes at IMADA? Come and join us for 2 x 20 min. inspiring talks while you enjoy a free “casual after-work” beer with your fellow student, colleague or teacher. Speakers will be announced ASAP, but mark your calendar now!
Powerful Political Metaphors: How Are They Created?
DIAS Discussion: Powerful Political Metaphors: How Are They Created? Introduction: Jeppe Nevers Lecture: Timo Pankakoski Commentator: Aglae Pizzone The event is open for all and takes place in the DIAS seminar room
MAPSP 2024 – workshop on Models and Algorithms for Planning and Scheduling Problems
Explore planning and scheduling solutions at MAPSP 2024 in Kolding, Denmark. Join us for insightful discussions on theoretical and practical aspects!