Talk by Jorge Pullin

Title: Spherical quantum vacua for quantum black holes in loop quantum gravity
Time: Wednesday November 19th 11:00am
Place: 241 Nicholson

Talk by Yifu Cai (McGill)

Title: Perturbation theory of bounce cosmology
Time: Monday November 11th 11:00am
Place: 241 Nicholson
Abstract:

I will focus on the understanding of big bang singularity and briefly review how we may avoid it from the approaches of effective field theory. This can be viewed as an important phenomenological step towards quantum gravity. I will talk about the corresponding perturbation theory of primordial cosmological perturbations within this frame and the predictions we could make for observations. Part of them have already been able to be constrained by the present CMB data, while more are expected in forthcoming data, namely the CMB polarization.

Talk by Emanuele Berti (OleMiss)

Title: Physics and astrophysics with gravitational-wave observations: opportunities and challenges
Time: Friday November 8th 10:00am
Place: 241 Nicholson
Abstract:
Future detections of compact binary mergers with Earth- and space-based gravitational-wave detectors may give us an opportunity to
test strong-field gravity in previously unexplored regimes, and to constrain the formation history of compact binaries. Building on the introduction from my departmental colloquium, I will give an informal (and more technical) discussion of the opportunities and challenges that await us. Can we really constrain alternative theories of gravity? Can we actually pin down the physical mechanism responsible for compact binary formation? What are the challenges that await gravitational-wave astronomy, given the current funding climate in the US and Europe?