Why Resolving the Singularity Problem of General Relativity is Not Just a Quantum Gravity Issue

Abstract: Over many years, there has been much impressive theorizing about how quantum mechanics might modify the space-time structure of general relativity at extremely tiny scales. A good deal of this work has been aimed at resolving the space-time singularity problem. However, there are strong reasons for believing that this cannot provide an overall resolution of that problem, the big bang having a totally different structure from the expected singularities in black holes.

Conformal geometry provides a very different outlook, revealing issues deeply related to the 2nd law of thermodynamics and leading to an exotic cosmological picture (conformal cyclic cosmology, or CCC), with various predictions, some now confirmed in observations of previously unexpected effects—most particularly those referred to as “Hawking points”.

cosmology and nongalactic astrophysicsgeneral relativity and quantum cosmologyHEP - theory

Audience: researchers in the topic

Quantum Gravity and All of That

Series comments: This seminar series is organized jointly by Steklov Mathematical Institute, RAS, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and University of Beira Interior.