Theodore Jacobson
University of Maryland, MD·Physics
What is spacetime made of at the quantum level, and is Einstein's theory of gravity the whole story? This theoretical physics program tackles these questions through several connected projects in which curved spacetime is central.
- Fields
Physics
Astronomy & Astrophysics
- Topics
quantum gravity
black holes
event horizons
- Grants
- 1 known grant, through Apr 2027
What they work on
- Compute horizon entropy in quantum gravity using path integral methods, comparing the nonperturbative approach with semiclassical algebraic quantum field theory and examining the near-horizon imaginary-time method.
- Analyze operators, states, entropy and time evolution in a nonperturbative quantization of a finite region in 2+1-dimensional gravity, relating it to covariant phase space and corner symmetry approaches.
- Clarify the origin of outgoing black hole modes behind Hawking radiation by studying gravitational anomalies, and use perturbative quantum gravity to describe how correlations near a horizon are suppressed.
- Design and interpret analog quantum field theory measurements of quantized sound waves (phonons) in a Bose-Einstein condensate with the Maryland experimental group, mimicking fields in an expanding universe.
- Formulate a general-relativistic theory of magnetic helicity and energy minimization in plasmas around black holes and neutron stars, including helicity injected through boundaries.
- Probe black hole horizons in Lorentz-violating gravity theories, studying horizons with changing structure and whether they develop curvature singularities in the far past or future.
More about the research
Many focus on event horizons, the boundaries of black holes beyond which nothing escapes, because horizons are thought to be a promising window on quantum gravity. Other projects apply curved-spacetime physics to plasma around stars and to laboratory quantum fluids.
Why it matters
This is fundamental physics. It aims to deepen understanding of the quantum nature of spacetime, black hole horizons and whether Einstein's gravity needs modification. The plasma work could help astronomers interpret radio observations of neutron stars and black holes. The condensate collaboration could let laboratory experiments test ideas about quantum fields in an expanding universe.
Known grants
From NIH and NSF research grants. Labs often have other funding we can't see.
Closest labs
Paul Anderson
Wake Forest University, NC·Physics
Determine whether evaporation of primordial black holes during cosmic inflation could produce observable effects on the cosmic background radiation, and study other quantum effects of these early black holes.
Wolfgang Tichy
Florida Atlantic University, FL·Astronomy & Astrophysics
Simulate binary neutron star mergers containing dark matter across a range of dark matter fractions, particle masses, mass ratios and spins with the BAM code, to set limits on dark matter in neutron stars.
Matthew Liska
Georgia Institute of Technology, GA·Astronomy & Astrophysics
Simulate super-Eddington accretion onto intermediate-mass black holes with radiative GRMHD models, varying accretion rate, magnetic field strength and misalignment between black hole spin and disk.
The school
University of Maryland: 49 labs on PI Pages, $1.5B a year on research, 602 research doctorates a year.
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