From the Standard Model to a renormalised quantum theory for black holes

(an apt approach to quantize gravity)

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About the speaker

Gerardus 't Hooft is a Dutch theoretical physicist and professor emeritus at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. He shared the 1999 Nobel Prize in Physics with his thesis advisor Martinus J. G. Veltman "for elucidating the quantum structure of electroweak interactions." His work concentrates on gauge theory, black holes, quantum gravity and fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. His contributions to physics include: a proof that gauge theories are renormalizable; dimensional regularization; and the holographic principle.

Abstract

The Standard Model is the most concise approach possible for deriving the physical laws of matter particles that interact with one another, while obeying the laws of Special Relativity. These interactions require a renormalization procedure that we briefly explain. It appears however that the Standard Model cannot be generalised directly if one tries to include the gravitational force. However there may exist an indirect approach by assuming that all matter exists of Standard Model fields that interact with black holes. This can be done while respecting the laws of General Relativity, and unitarity, a new demand that yields results different from more usual approaches.