Research Seminars @ Illinois

Tailored for undergraduate researchers, this calendar is a curated list of research seminars at the University of Illinois. Explore the diverse world of research and expand your knowledge through engaging sessions designed to inspire and enlighten.

To have your events added or removed from this calendar, please contact OUR at ugresearch@illinois.edu

Apr 30, 2026   4:00 pm  
Rhondale Tso Seminar Room, Loomis 236
Sponsor
Physics Department
Speaker
David Kaplan (Johns Hopkins University)
Contact
Brandy Koebbe
E-Mail
bkoebbe@illinois.edu
Views
17
Originating Calendar
Physics - Nuclear Physics Seminar

I will review how one gets classical physics from quantum theories in the Hamiltonian formulation, and then will show that there are quantum states of the field theories of general relativity and electromagnetism that we typically ignore, but have interesting phenomenological effects.  These states amount to loosening the constraint equations in GR and EM.   Doing so in GR removes the ‘problem of time’.  It also generally sources non-dynamical parts of the metric which mimic a pressure-less dust, with some odd features, and thus these effects may be the explanation as to why we think there is dark matter.  The constraint in EM is Gauss’ Law, and turning it off mimics a charge density that does not respond to electric forces, but follows geodesics.   I will briefly discuss the cosmological consequences of these new fields and potential studies.  I will also discuss some consequences of applying this formulation of gauge theories to non-Abelian groups.

link for robots only