Abstract
In this talk, the speaker will show how a gauge-theoretic approach to Jackiw–Teitelboim (JT) gravity naturally yields a two-dimensional Henneaux–Teitelboim (HT) unimodular theory, applicable to both flat and curved spacetimes. Under a mini-superspace reduction, the Wheeler–DeWitt equation becomes a Schrödinger-like equation admitting a consistent, unitary quantum description. The resulting wavefunction describes a quantum distribution for the scale factor, illuminating cosmic expansion and contraction, and allowing topology change at a=0.
Mr. Farbod Rassouli is a second-year PhD student at the University of Nottingham under supervision of Dr. Oliver Gould and Prof. Paul Saffin. He is currently working on twofold: Strong Phase Transition in QFT and Unimodular Gravity in lower dimensions.
He completed his Undergrad at Royal Holloway University of London (2017-2022) and Master in Science in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forcer at Imperial College London (2022-2023). His research interest includes, quantum cosmology, topology change and phase transition in QFT.
For more information regarding this program, please visit https://ias.hkust.edu.hk/events/unimodular-jt-gravity-and-de-sitter-quantum-cosmology.