Branco Weiss Fellow Since
2020
Research Category
Theoretical and Experimental Quantum Physics
Research Location
Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, USA
Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
Background
Theory of relativity might look like abstraction barely affecting our existence, however there is more to it. In fact, we are operating with the practical side of it on the daily basis through navigating with GPS in our smartphones. Many predictions of the General Relativity, which were perceived occult in the early years, have found to be justified and fundamental later. When the first black hole solution to Einstein’s equations was obtained, it was considered nothing more than a mathematical relic. It took decades to understand that these solutions are meaningful, and just recently we have witnessed the first image of a supermassive black hole. However, the theory for black holes is far from being settled: Physicists are struggling to connect two frameworks valid on different energy scales, Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity, into consolidating Quantum Gravity. An established feature of the future theory unveils that quantum black holes are not fully black: in fact, they are emitting light via Hawking mechanism. However, all the known black holes candidates are too cold and too distant to measure this effect, our best ever tools are insensitive to it. A different path should be taken.
Details of Research
Dr. Alexander Kruchkov works on the paradigm of replicating attributes of black holes in the context of quantum matter simulations. Quantum phases of matter can be engineered in the way to represent interactions typical to the physics of black holes. The underlying machinery involves using the holographical principle, which projects properties of higher-dimensional black holes on lower-dimensional quantum theories describing interacting quantum matter. By using his experience in low-dimensional quantum materials, theory of dispersionless electronic states, and training in experimental condensed matter, Dr. Kruchkov works towards constructing replicant black holes in quantum matter experiments. The goal is to open routes for novel experimental studies of ultraquantum matter, which could be used for deeper understanding of modern models for Quantum Gravity. Constructing playgrounds for analogue gravity will help us exploring black hole horizons in the cost-effective roomscale experiments, an exposition of Quantum Gravity open for outreach.
