Event

Talk
What Can We Learn From Three-dimensional Gravity?
Marc Henneaux
29 May 2012, 17:30 – 18:30

Three-dimensional Einstein gravity has no local dynamical degree of freedom. Yet, it is far from being trivial when the cosmological constant is negative. (i) It admits black hole solutions. (ii) It possesses remarkable asymptotic properties at infinity where an infinite-dimensional symmetry algebra emerges. These unique features make three-dimensional gravity a perfect "theoretical laboratory" in which to explore the conceptual issues related to (i) and (ii) in a simpler context. The talk will not only discuss three-dimensional gravity assuming no previous knowledge on the subject, but will also provide background information on why (i) and (ii) are connected with some of the deepest current challenges in physics. If time permits, the extension of Einstein gravity to include consistently interacting higher spin gauge fields (another long-standing challenge of theoretical physics) will also be addressed in the three-dimensional context.

Related to:

• Marc Henneaux