IAS Fundamental Physics Seminar Series - Quantum and Holographic Aspects of Spacetime Anisotropy

Abstract
Anisotropy of space time may be described in terms of a critical exponent that characteries how space and time may scale differently under a scaling transformation. Such scaling transformation is called a Lifshitz scale transformation. System that is invariant under a Lifshitz scaling transformation is called Lifshitz scale invariant. A prominent example is the critical liquid Helium.
The speaker will discuss the entropic properties of Lifshitz field theory (LFT), both from field theory and from holography. He will also present a new proposal for the holographic dual of boundary Lifshitz field theory (BLFT). Finally the speaker will discuss how anisotropy of space time affects quantum mechanics. In particular he will show how an anisotropic Josephson Junction may be enhanced in its working by the anisotropy of the insulating junction layer.