May 9-12, 2012
Perimeter Institute
Scientific Areas: quantum gravity, cosmology, classical gravity

 
Conformal symmetry has surfaced in many different areas of gravitational physics, notably in the AdS/CFT correspondence, Horava gravity, Shape Dynamics and the initial value problem in GR, and may very well be our most important clue to a UV-completion of gravity. On the other hand, the early universe offers observational evidence for conformal symmetry in the form of a near-scale invariant primordial power spectrum, as seen in the cosmic microwave background and large-scale structure of the universe. In particular, the trading of symmetries between spacetime refoliation invariance for spatial conformal invariance, as in Shape Dynamics, may be manifested in the scale-invariant dynamics of the early universe. This might also lead to a violation of Lorentz symmetry in the gravitational sector, as in Einstein-Aether or Cuscuton gravity. This conference brings researchers in these areas together to foster new interdisciplinary discourse and collaboration in this fascinating interplay between conformal symmetry, cosmology and gravitational physics.

Scientific Organizers:
Niayesh Afshordi, Perimeter Institute
Julian Barbour, College Farm
Sean Gryb, Utrecht University
Tim Koslowski, Perimeter Institute
Lee Smolin, Perimeter Institute