Upcoming Theory Seminars*
September 9
Speaker: Boaz Keren-Zur, Ecole Polytechnique
Title: "The local Callan-Symanzik equation: structure and applications"
Abstract:
The local Callan-Symanzik equation describes the response of a quantum
field theory to local scale transformations in the presence of
background sources. The consistency conditions associated with this
anomalous equation can be used to derive powerful constraints on RG
flows. We will discuss various aspects of the equation and present new
results regarding the structure of the anomaly. We then use the equation
to write correlation functions of the trace of the energy-momentum
tensor off-criticality.
September 30
Speaker: Sam Gralla, University of Maryland
Title: TBD
October 7
Speaker: Alexander Vikman, NYU
Title: "NEC-violation, Stability, Causality and UV-Completion"
Abstract:
I will discuss generic properties of systems violating the Null Energy Condition (NEC).
In particular I will show why the Hamiltonian of these systems should
necessarily be unbounded from below. Further I will stress the role of
the external matter for the theories which are able to violate NEC
without ghosts and gradient instabilities. In particular, on the
example of Galilean Genesis, I will show that the presence of external
matter changes otherwise completely subluminal cosmology into a
background with superluminal propagation of small perturbations. Finally
I will briefly discuss possible UV-completions in such scenarios.
October 14
Speaker: Guilherme L. Pimentel, Princeton
Title: TBD
October 21
Speaker: David Spergel, Princeton
Title: TBD
November 11
Speaker: Mark Trodden, UPENN
Title: TBD
November 18
Speaker: Leonardo Rastelli, Stony Brook University
Title: TBD
November 25
Speaker: Marco Peloso, University of Minnesota
Title: TBD
December 9
Speaker: Roman Scoccimarro, NYU
Title: TBD
