Quantum mechanics and gravity Married?

In summary, there is currently a lot of interest in the concept of Horava gravity, as it attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and gravity. However, it is not the only promising approach being researched, and there are still many challenges and questions surrounding it. A recent conference on Horava gravity featured talks by Petr Horava himself and Ted Jacobson, providing insight and discussion on the subject. Videos of the talks are available online for further exploration.
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sas3
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sas3 said:
Quantum mechanics and gravity Married?

They have been dating for so long it's about time. (literally)

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=splitting-time-from-space"

I thought the this was very interesting, and thought I would share it here.

We have discussed Horava gravity some here at Beyond forum. Just to maintain perspecitve, it is perhaps not quite as promising and exciting as the SciAm journalist makes out, so it does not necessarily overshadow all the other approaches. There are several interesting ones being worked on.

But if you are especially interested in Horava gravity, there was just this month a conference about it, and all the talks are available video online. I will get a link.

Here is the Beyond forum discussion thread about that conference. It gives many links:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=353017

Petr Horava himself gave the first talk. And Ted Jacobson (who is tops, absolutely first rate) was invited to give the last talk at the very end, where people raised problems, and looked back over what had been shown at the conference. It was a surprise invitation, Ted had not been expecting to get up in front, only came to listen, so he brought no slides. He just used the blackboard. Good (unrehearsed) summary and discussion at the end, though.

Here is a menu of all the talks, giving links to watch the video of each one.
http://pirsa.org/C09026
 
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Thank you for sharing this article! It seems that there is ongoing research and debate about whether quantum mechanics and gravity are truly "married" or if there is still more to be understood about their relationship. While they are both fundamental theories in physics, they have been difficult to reconcile and unify. However, as this article suggests, there have been recent developments and theories that are attempting to bridge the gap between these two theories. It will be fascinating to see where this research leads us and if we will ever fully understand the intricate relationship between quantum mechanics and gravity.
 

FAQ: Quantum mechanics and gravity Married?

1. What is the relationship between quantum mechanics and gravity?

Quantum mechanics and gravity are two fundamental theories in physics that aim to explain the behavior of matter and energy. While quantum mechanics deals with the behavior of particles at a microscopic level, gravity explains the force of attraction between objects with mass. Both theories are necessary to fully understand the behavior of the universe.

2. How do quantum mechanics and gravity affect the concept of time?

In quantum mechanics, time is considered to be continuous and is not affected by the behavior of particles. However, in general relativity (which explains gravity), time is affected by the presence of matter and energy, and can vary depending on the gravitational forces present. The combination of these two theories has led to the concept of spacetime, where time and space are intertwined.

3. Can quantum mechanics and gravity be unified into one theory?

Currently, there is no unified theory that can fully explain both quantum mechanics and gravity. Many physicists are working on theories such as string theory and loop quantum gravity in an attempt to merge the two theories into a single framework. However, this remains a challenging and ongoing area of research.

4. How does the concept of entanglement in quantum mechanics relate to gravity?

Entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more particles become connected in a way that their properties are correlated, even if they are separated by large distances. Some theories suggest that gravity plays a role in this entanglement, but this is still a topic of debate and further research.

5. Are there any practical applications of the combination of quantum mechanics and gravity?

The merging of quantum mechanics and gravity has the potential to lead to a better understanding of the universe and potentially unlock new technologies. For example, a unified theory could potentially lead to advances in quantum computing and space travel. However, the practical applications are still largely theoretical at this point.

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