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Does Quantum Gravity constrain Large-Field Inflation?

Speaker:

Abstract

I will describe the theoretical interest in large-field inflation and its relation to potential future observations, e.g. through primordial gravitational waves. I will outline the possible fundamental obstructions to realizing such inflationary scenarios, both in string theory and in quantum gravity in general. The focus will in particular be on the recent scientific debate in the context of the Weak Gravity Conjecture and Gravitational Instantons, which will both be explained in simple terms.

Does Quantum Gravity constrain Large-Field Inflation?

Venue

Higgs Centre Seminar Room, JCMB (Find us on campus maps)
The Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics
School of Physics and Astronomy
James Clerk Maxwell Building, 4305
Peter Guthrie Tait Road
Edinburgh
EH9 3FD
UK

Resources

  • PDF