Conformal Nature of the Universe

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Conference Date: 
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 (All day) to Saturday, May 12, 2012 (All day)
Scientific Areas: 
Other
Cosmology
Quantum 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.

Itzhak Bars, University of Southern California

Steven Carlip, University of California, Davis

Petr Horava, University of California, Berkeley

Viqar Husain, University of New Brunswick

James Isenberg, University of Oregon

Joao Magueigo, Imperial College, London

Shinji Mukohyama, Kavli Institute, IPMU

Kostas Skenderis, University of Amsterdam

Gerard t'Hooft, Utrecht University

Niayesh Afshordi, Perimeter Institute

Julian Barbour, College Farm

Itzhak Bars, University of Southern California

Steven Carlip, University of California, Davis

Sean Gryb, Utrecht University

Petr Horava, University of California, Berkeley

Viqar Husain, University of New Brunswick

James Isenberg, University of Oregon

Tim Koslowski, Perimeter Institute

Joao Magueigo, Imperial College, London

Shinji Mukohyama, Kavli Institute, IPMU

Kostas Skenderis, University of Amsterdam

Lee Smolin, Perimeter Institute

Gerard t'Hooft, Utrecht University

Details to come.

Details to come.

 

Funding provided in part by: