curriculum vitae

Research Interests : Theoretical and mathematical physics.

My primary research interest is the theory of fundamental interactions, and to contribute to the development of a quantum theory of fundamental interactions including gravity. Specifically, I'm developing and following an approach known as „Matrix Theory“, focusing on the IKKT or IIB matrix model. This can be viewed as a constructive approach to string theory, which avoids the "landscape" problem and its inherent lack of predictivity. The model is viewed as fundamental starting point, rather than an effective description of string theory. The model is extremely simple, and leads naturally to a quantum structure of space-time. A central aspect of this programe is to establish a suitable notion of quantum geometry, which is fairly well developed by now.

The basic idea is that 3+1-dimensional space-time arises as a (brane-like) solution of the matrix model, and physics arises from fluctuations on this brane. For Yang-Mills gauge theories, this works in a very nice and convincing way. The main challenge has been to recover gravity. The 10-dimensional (super)gravity usually studied in string theory is not the appropriate answer (it merely leads to a weak short-range interaction on the brane). Rather, gravity emerges  through an intrinsic dynamical  frame on the space-time brane, which is linked to its internal quantum structure. Its quantization is then defined non-perturbatively by integrating over all matrices.


Recent progress strongly indicates that this scenario is indeed realized on solutions with a particular structure, dubbed „covariant quantum spaces“. They lead to the spin 2 fluctuations required for gravity, as well as a tower of higher-spin modes. Simple cosmological space-time solutions featuring a Big Bounce were found, and the fluctuation modes were shown to be ghost-free. In particular, the linearized Schwarzschild solution was found, and recent progress allows to access also the non-linear regime.  There is growing evidence that the approach leads to a near-realistic form of gravity, which - unlike the Einstein Hilbert action - would be well-suited for quantization. See also a related press release  and a review article.  The goal in the next years is to develop this theory further.


This work has been supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF through various grants. This support was crucial to carry out this line of research at the University of Vienna, and is gratefully acknowledged.

Apart from this long-term project, I'm also interested in other topics in the context of the theory of elementary particles and fundamental interactions, quantum gravity, string theory, noncommutative geometry, random matrix theory, quantum groups, etc.

Selected talks,  providing an introduction & overview of my recent work

Publications

• e-prints at the archive

• InSPIRE HEP-preprint database: search
  

Research Project "Covariant Quantum Spaces, Higher Spin, and Gravity"

supported by the FWF,  P 32086

This project focuses on the recently discovered 3+1-dimensional covariant quantum space-times, which lead to higher-spin gauge theories in the framework of Yang-Mills matrix models. The focus will be on the gravity sector, which arises from spin 2 fluctuation modes on these spaces. This should provide a promising framework for quantum gravity, and we will aim to develop this as far as possible.

Members of this research group:  Yuhma Asano (postdoc), Veronika Bachleitner (Master's student), Clemens Kerschbaumer (Master's student),  H.S.

(completed) Research Project "Squashed Extra Dimensions in Gauge Theory and Matrix Models"

supported by the FWF,  P 28590

(completed) Project "Branes, Gauge Theory and Gravity in Matrix Models" 

supported by the FWF,  P24713,     related press release

(completed) project "Matrix Models, Quantum Spaces, and Gravity" 

supported by FWF,  P21610

Possible topics for a Master's thesis

COST network QSPACE

completed (I was member of the management committee & leader of the working group on gravity models)

Training school Quantum Structure of Spacetime and Gravity 2016

Current and recent teaching

• WS 2020/21  VL „Analysis für PhysikerInnen I“, mit Übungen
  
  
• SoSe 2020  VL Analysis II für PhysikerInnen, mit Übungen
  
  
• WS 2019/20  VL „Analysis für PhysikerInnen I“, mit Übungen
  
  
• SoSe 2019   VUE "Lie-Gruppen und Lie-Algebren für PhysikerInnen"
  
  
• WS 2018/19 VL "Mathematische Methoden der Physik II, mit Übungen
  
  
• SoSe 2018 VL „Analysis für PhysikerInnen II“, mit Übungen
  
  
• WS 2017/18 „Analysis für PhysikerInnen I“, mit Übungen
  
  

Lecture notes:

• Lie groups and Lie algebras for physicists
  
  
  

related seminars  & conferences

• Workshop Matrix Models for Noncommutative Geometry and String Theory

• Quantum Spacetime 18

• international workshop on "Noncommutative Geometry, Duality and Quantum Gravity"

• Quantum Spacetime 17

• Training school Quantum Structure of Spacetime and Gravity 2016

• Workshop on Noncommutative Field Theory and Gravity , Corfu, September 19 - 26, 2015