Theoretical Particle Cosmology Seminar

A7 Physics
Thursday 11 April 2019
3:00pm to 4:00pm

The universe as a condensate of spacetime atoms.

Abstract: In the standard picture of cosmology, the Universe began at the Big Bang; the Big Bang itself is a singularity where the laws of
physics break down. A quantum theory of gravity should resolve this singularity and help in understanding the initial state of the Universe
needed to account for present observations.

I will present some progress towards this goal in the group field theory approach to quantum gravity, using the idea of a universe formed as a “condensate”, i.e. a very homogeneous quantum configuration, from a large number of discrete building blocks of geometry.

I will show how this setting produces new cosmological models without an initial singularity; demanding that such models be both theoretically self-consistent and potentially compatible with observation then gives new ways for constraining theories of quantum gravity.

Speaker: Dr Steffen Gielen

Amy Lloyd-Stubbs

 

Physics Away Day

The next Physics Away Day will take place on Friday 26th April 2019 in Green Lane Conference Centre. An agenda will be circulated once finalised but will include the Curriculum Review.

Attendance is mandatory for academic staff and all other staff are welcome to attend if they wish. Please confirm your attendance and let me have any dietary requirements by COP Friday 29th March.

Grainne Wilkinson

 

Brexit Travel Advice

Brexit – travel on and around 29th March 2019 and other considerations:

https://portal.lancaster.ac.uk/staffintranet/protected/?landingTab=/storybypath/intranet/news/2019/brexit-travel-on-and-around-29th-march-2019-and-other-considerations/index.xml#/storybypath/intranet/news/2019/brexit-travel-on-and-around-29th-march-2019-and-other-considerations/index.xml

https://www.keytravel.com/uk/news-and-views/news-and-alerts/2019/february-2019/key-travel-brexit-update/

Grainne Wilkinson

 

IOP Institute of Physics – Lancashire and Cumbria Branch

Lancashire Lecture Programme 2018 – 2019

• 10 April 2019 – Lancaster – Galaxy formation and evolution: nature vs nurture – Dr David Sobral (Lancaster)
• 15 May 2019 – Preston – Asteroseismology: A New Keplerian Revolution Prof Don Kurtz (UCLan)
• 12 June 2019 – Lancaster – Infinite Differences: Lessons on Diversity from Women in Physics – Dr Frankie Doddato (Lancaster)

Start Times: 18:00 (refreshments) for 18:30

Venues:

• Preston: Lecture Theatre 2 or 3, Foster Building, University of Central Lancashire
• Lancaster: Cavendish Colloquium Room, Faraday Lecture Theatre Complex, Lancaster University

Chris Bowdery