Are there singularities in our universe? - Eleni-Alexandra Kontou

Abstract:

 Singularities are usually defined as points of infinite density where our understanding of physical law breaks down. In this talk, I will present the different definitions of a singularity and the famous singularity theorems of Penrose and Hawking. Then I will provide motivation to develop theorems that are applicable to quantum matter and derive some recent results in that direction. Finally, I will discuss some general ideas about singularities and their role as well as open questions in general relativity and quantum gravity.  

Bio:

Dr. Eleni-Alexandra Kontou is an AEP lecturer in theoretical physics at King's College London. She was awarded a Phd in Physics from Tufts University in 2015. After successfully applying for a Horizon 2020 EU grant she was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie research fellow at the department of mathematics at the University of York from 2017 to 2019.  From 2020 until 2022 she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Amsterdam. She has also worked as a visiting assistant professor at Bard College and the College of the Holy Cross. Her research interests cover a variety of topics in quantum field theory in curved spacetime, mathematical physics, and cosmology but most of her work focuses on energy conditions, quantum inequalities,  and their applications. Eleni has developed and taught several undergraduate and post-graduate courses from introductory physics to general relativity. She is interested in methods of active learning as well as in increasing diversity in STEM fields by encouraging the participation of women and minorities. She is one of the organizers of the SemiClassical Online Network Exchange: SCONE

Programma completo dell’evento:

14:00 - 14:45: Q&A session "Postgraduate studies in the UK" (A206)
15:00 - 16:00: Colloquium Matematico (A206)   
16:00 - 17:00: Rinfresco e saluti (Acquario)