Quantum Gravity and Cosmology

Catalog description

The goal of this course is to introduce applied aspects of quantum gravity to give answers on the short-distance behavior of gravitational interactions. Probing the high-energy and high-curvature regimes of gravitating systems can shed some light on fundamental problems of classical gravity such as the initial big-bang singularity, the cosmological constant problem and the physics at and beyond the Planck scale. On the other hand, it can give vital information on the early-time inflationary evolution of our Universe and might shed some light on dark matter and energy. The course will not delve into conceptual and philosophical aspects but rather serve as a practical toolkit for students who want to see how quantum effects change the classical picture on cosmology, with tangible predictions. These include gravitational waves, the Hawking effect, the Casimir effect, and the Unruh effect. We will also work out the quantization of classical cosmological models.