Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Among the four fundamental forces in nature, only gravity has not been quantized, nor has it been unified with the other three (electromagnetic, strong and weak nuclear). Thus, the satisfactory formulation of a quantum theory of gravity remains as one of the most important challenges of theoretical physics. Black holes on the other hand, which are solutions of Einstein's theory of general relativity, and have event horizons, serve as theoretical laboratories for testing various proposals of quantum gravity. They are believed to have entropy and temperature, understanding the microscopic origin of which is hoped to shed light on the nature of quantum gravity. Continuing to work in black hole physics, I would like to examine whether quantum entanglement between fields inside and outside a horizon can be a source of black hole entropy, and try to identify the location of the degrees of freedom which give rise to this entropy. I would also like to study possible experimental signatures of mini black holes, which have been predicted by brane world scenarios to form in future high energy colliders. These signatures may result from radiation emitted and from the shedding of angular momentum from these black holes. I also intend to study the black hole information loss problem and explore whether the techniques used in Quantum Information Science (in which too I have worked in the past) can be used in that context. Finally, I intend to diversify my research into cosmology.In the above areas of research, there is considerable room for innovation, collaboration, and the opportunity to train a number of highly qualified personnel.