Public Lecture: The Principle of Least Action, from the “Vis-viva” to Quantum Black Holes
Description
The Principle of Least Action is both profound and practical. Since its first formulation by Maupertuis and Euler nearly three centuries ago, the Principle has been, and continues to be, a formidable battlehorse for penetrating unchartered territory in
theoretical physics. The Principle, its connection with, and implications for, our ideas of symmetry, space, time, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and gravitation, are glanced at.
It is commonly recognized that scientific discoveries result in new technologies. In this talk we will discuss the reverse: behind every conceptual breakthrough lies some technological advance. To illustrate this point, we will review how modern progress in optical technologies is revolutionizing...
Published 04/23/24
Strongly correlated metals exhibit anomalous transport properties
which have puzzled condensed matter physicists for many years.
They are characterized by large resistivities which exceed the Mott
Ioffe Reggel limit and large thermoelectric responses, which cannot
be explained in terms of...
Published 04/22/24
“With four parameters I can fit an elephant; with five I can make it wag its tail.” Systems biology models of the cell have an enormous number of reactions between proteins, RNA, and DNA whose rates (parameters) are hard to measure. Models of climate change, ecosystems, and macroeconomics also...
Published 04/22/24