Welcome to the Center for Fundamental Theory!
The primary goal of the Center for Fundamental Theory is to foster research and education of the highest quality in the fields of cosmology, quantum gravity and string theory and related areas of astrophysics and astronomy, mathematical physics and geometry.
Monumental achievements of the 20th century physics, namely, Einstein's theory of relativity and quantum physics have been phenomenally successful in explaining the universe at large distance scales and at microscopic levels, respectively. However, the reconciliation of Einstein's general theory of relativity with quantum mechanics within a consistent framework has been the most important challenge facing theoretical physics for decades. String theory and loop quantum gravity are the two best known theories that try to reconcile Einstein's theory with quantum mechanics. Loop quantum gravity focuses on the interplay between gravity and geometry with emphasis on background independence. String theory is more ambitious in its scope and tries to unify all known forces in a consistent theory including quantum gravity. In recent years important cosmological questions have been addressed within the framework of both loop quantum gravity and string theory that has led to exciting new developments.
These different approaches to quantum gravity and to quantum cosmology all attempt to achieve an understanding of the universe at a fundamental level, but they have traditionally been separate from each other both by their concepts and methods. Our center is one of the few places in the world where all the main fields are represented and is thus ideally suited to promote a conversion of ideas and methods.
As can easily be gleaned from the web pages of the other two centers ,CPA and CGWP, of the Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos (IGC) we are at the forefront of a new era in which important new data will be pouring in from major experiments in which members of those two centers are involved in. These experiments may provide answers to some of the most important outstanding questions in cosmology, astrophysics and gravitational waves. Hence through synergistic interactions within IGC our center hopes to contribute to the understanding of how theoretical physics research in cosmology, quantum gravity and string theory can be related to observation.