Arts & Sciences Events
[PAST EVENT] Physics Colloquium - Jens Boos
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- Open to the public
Jens Boos, William & Mary Physics, Title of Talk: So black holes exist. Now what?
Abstract:
The 2020 Nobel prize was awarded for the theoretical prediction of black holes and the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the center of our galaxy. Three years prior, in 2017, it was awarded for the discovery of gravitational waves caused by the collision of two astrophysical black holes. We even have a photo of a black hole. So, while we still cannot poke a black hole with a stick to see what it does, there is ever-increasing evidence that these fascinating objects really exist in our Universe.
But what does that mean? Where can we go from here?
After a brief introduction to the basic principles of General Relativity and black hole physics, I will explore current and future research directions in black hole physics. On the experimental side this includes testing Einstein’s theory of gravity with black hole shadows, the search for new ultralight particles from gravitational wave signals, the search for hypothetical microstructures close to black hole horizons, and more. On the theoretical side, black holes are expected to radiate and eventually decay, once quantum aspects are considered, with fascinating implications for the interplay of black holes and quantum information.
We are probably just at the beginning of a new era of black hole research, now that these enigmatic objects have been observed in our Universe, and it will be exciting to see what new insights the next decades will bring, both experimental and theoretical.