Speaker: Erik Curiel (Universität Bonn; Harvard Black Hole Initiative)
Title: Singularities in classical and semi-classical gravity - theory failure or new physics?
Abstract: I survey philosophical and foundational issues associated with general relativity's and semi-classical gravity's prediction that certain kinds of singularities associated with black holes are generic, including: how to understand them physically; their relation to cosmic censorship and determinism; and whether they necessarily imply a breakdown of general relativity and semi-classical gravity as physical theories, and, if so, what that may even mean.
Room: Sala de Reuniões e Seminários (2-8.3) (2nd Floor of Physics Building)