Mathematical Physics and Algebraic Geometry Seminar

Speaker: Wei Bu (Harvard University)

Title: 2d chiral Lagrangian for asymptotic dynamics for 4d (self-dual) Einstein gravity

Abstract: In this talk, I will present a simple chiral 2d Lagrangian living on a 2d celestial sphere on the null boundary of 4d Minkowski space and briefly mention its first principal derivation using twistor theory. This 2d theory gives the asymptotic/edge dynamics of 4d (self-dual) Einstein gravity in asymptotically flat spacetimes. For example, using simple 2d CFT computations, one could recover generators of asymptomatic symmetries. If time permits, I’ll further discuss the potential of using this theory to produce a QFT computation of the entropy of a certain asymptotically flat black hole.