Dr
Jure Zupan
(Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology)
27/08/2007, 09:30
Prof.
Nemanja Kaloper
(University of California, Davis)
27/08/2007, 09:45
We outline a dynamical dark energy scenario whose signatures may be
simultaneously tested by astronomical observations and laboratory
experiments. The dark energy is a field with slightly sub-gravitational
couplings to matter, a logarithmic self-interaction potential with a scale
tuned to $\sim 10^{-3} {\rm eV}$, as is usual in quintessence models, and
an effective mass $m_\phi$...
Prof.
Jim Bergquist
(NIST Boulder, USA)
27/08/2007, 11:00
In recent years, several groups throughout the world have initiated research toward the development and systematic evaluation of frequency and time standards based on narrow optical transitions in laser-cooled atomic systems. In this report we present some of the results obtained in comparative studies of the Hg+ single ion optical clock, the Al+ single ion optical clock and the Cs fountain...
Prof.
Ekkehard Peik
(PTB Braunschweig, Germany)
27/08/2007, 11:45
The techniques of trapping and laser cooling of ions have allowed to
perform laser spectroscopy of forbidden transitions with a resolution of
a few hertz. These systems will be used as optical atomic clocks that
offer higher stability and greater accuracy than the best primary cesium
clocks available today. At PTB we have built an optical clock based on a
single trapped ytterbium ion and...
Prof.
Cristophe Salomon
(Kastler Brossel, Paris, France)
27/08/2007, 14:30
We will describe the present status for the realization of the SI unit of
time, the second. Microwave frequency standards operating with laser cooled
cesium and rubidium atoms have advanced by two orders of magnitude in the
last two decades. Cesium fountains currently operate at the fundamental
quantum noise limit with 107 detected atoms and display a relative
frequency stability of...
Prof.
Raymond Chiao
(UC Merced, USA)
27/08/2007, 15:30
Pairs of Planck-mass--scale drops of superfluid helium coated
by electrons, when levitated in the presence of strong magnetic fields and
at low temperatures, can be efficient quantum transducers between
electromagnetic (EM) and gravitational (GR) radiation. A Hertz-like
experiment, in which EM waves (microwaves) are converted at the source
into GR waves, and then back-converted at...
Prof.
Don Howard
(Univ. of Notre Dame, USA)
28/08/2007, 09:00
This talk traces the history of quantum entanglement from Einstein's
earliest worries in 1905-at the time of the photon hypothesis paper-about
the failure of the mutual independence of quanta outside of the Wien
regime, through his early speculations ca. 1909 about wave-particle duality
and his first clear and deep insight into the mutual dependence of systems
obeying bosonic...
Dr
Lucia Hackermuller
(Johannes-Gutenberg University Mayence)
28/08/2007, 09:45
We use a near field interferometer of Talbot-Lau type to investigate the
wave particle duality of large molecules such as C70 fullerenes. This
device is also well suited to study the quantum-to-classical transition
via decoherence mechanisms that occur quite naturally in such an
interferometer. Interactions of the interfering particle with the
surrounding environment lead to a collapse of...
Prof.
Aurelio Bay
(EPFL, Switzerland)
28/08/2007, 10:45
The neutral B-meson pair produced at the Upsilon(4S) should exhibit
a non-local correlation of the type discussed by Einstein, Podolski, and
Rosen. The time-dependent flavour asymmetry of the B mesons decaying into
flavour eigenstates will be used to test such a correlation.
The asymmetry obtained from semileptonic B0 decays
is in agreement with the prediction from quantum
mechanics...
Prof.
Claus Kiefer
(Univ. Koln, Germany)
28/08/2007, 11:45
Canonical quantization is among the main approaches to quantum gravity.
Its main conceptual problems are reviewed in my talk.
Most of them are centred around the problem of time: a time parameter
is absent in the fundamental equations. I discuss the meaning of
time in full quantum gravity and the recovery of semiclassical time
as an approximation. This also includes the Hilbert-space...
Dr
Edward Anderson
(Univ. of Cambridge, UK)
28/08/2007, 14:30
The problem of time is a major conceptual stumbling block in attempting to
quantize gravity. For, time is conceptually different in general relativity
and in conventional quantum theory, which are the two structures that one
would seek to combine in forming a theory of quantum gravity. I consider
the timeless records approach to this in this seminar. Records are
localized,...
Dr
Martin Tajmar
(Austrian Research Centers)
28/08/2007, 15:30
The search for frame dragging around massive rotating objects such as the
Earth is an important test for general relativity and is actively pursued
with the LAGEOS and Gravity Probe-B satellites. Within the classical
framework, frame dragging is independent of the state (normal or coherent)
of the test mass. This was recently challenged by proposing that a large
frame-dragging field...
Prof.
Matej Pavsic
(Josef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana)
28/08/2007, 16:15
A generalization of the theory of relativity is considered in which
spacetime $M_4$ is replaced by the configuration space
${\cal C}$ associated with a given physical system. In particular,
for a system of point particles we assume that its dynamical
behavior is determined by the minimal length action in ${\cal C}$.
In other words, the system is considered as a point that traces
a...
Prof.
Jorge Pullin
(Louisiana State University)
29/08/2007, 09:00
There are gravitational limitations on how accurately one can measure
space and time. As a consequence of these limitations, when one formulates quantum
mechanics and quantum field theory in terms of real measuring rods and clocks the
resulting theory is not unitary. This has implications for the black hole information
puzzle and may in a not too distant future lead to testable experiments.
Prof.
Masanori Yamauchi
(KEK, Japan)
29/08/2007, 11:00
In particle physics, a theory called Standard Model has
been established in the last two decades, which successfully
describes almost all the known experimental results up
to O(100) GeV energy scale. However it is widely believed
that the Standard Model is only an approximation of an
unrevealed theory that governs physics at O(1000) GeV
energy scale, and purposes of the modern high...
Prof.
Marco Sozzi
(University of Pisa)
30/08/2007, 09:00
A review is provided of the measurements and investigations of direct and indirect CP violation, and the related T violation, within the neutral and charged kaon systems, discussing the evolution of the field, the most relevant and recent experimental results. An overview of ongoing activities and new projects being prepared is also presented.
Prof.
Tatsuya Nakada
(CERN)
30/08/2007, 09:45
Study of Flavour quantum numbers in elementary particle physics had
successfully revealed the structure of the Standard Model indirectly,
before the direct discoveries were made; such as charm, beauty and
top quarks and GIM mechanism and Kobayashi-Masukawa phase and CP
violation. At LHC, physics beyond the Standard Model will be studied
directly by searching for new particles...
Prof.
Antonio Di Domenico
(University of Rome "La Sapienza")
30/08/2007, 10:45
The neutral kaon system offers a unique possibility
to perform fundamental tests of CPT invariance, as well as
of the basic principles of quantum mechanics.
The most recent limits on CPT violation will be reviewed, including the
ones based on the Bell-Steinberger relation, related to possible
decoherence mechanisms, or Lorentz symmetry breaking.
Quantum coherence and other QM tests...
Prof.
Martin Bojowald
(Penn. State Univ., USA)
30/08/2007, 11:45
A discrete structure of space and time is often expected to result from a
quantum theory of gravity. Loop quantum gravity realizes this clearly at
least for space while time, in such a canonical quantization, is handled
more indirectly. Cosmological scenarios show how the discreteness of time,
unnoticeable at current scales, becomes an important feature in the early
universe. It plays a...
Dr
Bobby Acharya
(Abdus Salam ICTP)
30/08/2007, 14:30
The LHC will begin data taking in the Summer of 2008.
We review the physics potential of the ATLAS and CMS experiments with
an emphasis on the new types of particles which might be produced in the
Proton-Proton collisions at 14 TeV.
Prof.
Carlo Baccigalupi
(SISSA)
30/08/2007, 15:30
We review the physics of the cosmic microwave background
anisotropies and how the early universe and cosmological
structure formation imprint their records into it.
We describe the status of the CMB experiments, pointing out the
CMB observables which are still beyond reach of the operating detectors.
Finally, we focus on the the expectations from Planck and future probes.
Dr
Seif Randjbar-Daemi
(Abdus Salam ICTP)
31/08/2007, 09:00
We review the physics in space times of higher than
4-dimensions with particular emphasis on two extra dimensions. Some recent results
about the spectrum of 3-brane with positive and negative tensions in
gauged supergravities in 6 dimensions will be
discussed. In these theories it is possible to be obtain large mass
gaps even in the large volume limit.
Dr
Martin O'Loughlin
(University of Nova Gorica)
31/08/2007, 10:00
We study in detail the solution space for a class of sypersymmetric solutions to supergravity. The solutions fall into three classes, non-singular, null-singular and time machines with a time-like naked singularity. We study the general features of these metrics and prove that there are actually just two generic classes of space-times - those with null singularities are in the same class as...
