University Calendar

Quantum Gravity in a Nutshell

Prof. Jihun (Jayme) Kim, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Montclair State University

Nature is full of interactions which can be described in terms of four fundamental forces: electromagnetic, weak, strong and gravitational. It is the most ambitious goal of theoretical physics to provide a unified quantum mechanical description of all four interactions, and quantum field theory provides a partial success. As a consistent framework describing the first three forces, quantum field theory passed numerous experimental tests, including the recent discovery of the Higgs boson. However, we do not have a quantum mechanical model of gravity yet, and quantum gravity has been the “holy grail” of theoretical physics. In this talk, we review the history of gravitational theory and the current status of quantum gravity.

(Coffee/cookies begins at 3:30pm; seminar starts promptly at 4pm.)

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