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View article: Visions in quantum gravity
Visions in quantum gravity Open
To deepen our understanding of Quantum Gravity and its connections with black holes and cosmology, building a common language and exchanging ideas across different approaches is crucial. The Nordita Program “Quantum Gravity: From gravitati…
View article: Black Mirrors: CPT-Symmetric Alternatives to Black Holes
Black Mirrors: CPT-Symmetric Alternatives to Black Holes Open
Einstein's equations imply that a gravitationally collapsed object forms an event horizon. But what lies on the other side of this horizon? In this paper, we question the reality of the conventional solution (the black hole), and point out…
View article: Visions in Quantum Gravity
Visions in Quantum Gravity Open
To deepen our understanding of Quantum Gravity and its connections with black holes and cosmology, building a common language and exchanging ideas across different approaches is crucial. The Nordita Program "Quantum Gravity: from gravitati…
View article: Gravitational entropy and the flatness, homogeneity and isotropy puzzles
Gravitational entropy and the flatness, homogeneity and isotropy puzzles Open
We suggest a new explanation for the observed large scale flatness, homogeneity and isotropy of the universe. The basic ingredients are Einstein's theory of gravity and Hawking's method of computing the gravitational entropy. The new twist…
View article: Thermodynamic solution of the homogeneity, isotropy and flatness puzzles (and a clue to the cosmological constant)
Thermodynamic solution of the homogeneity, isotropy and flatness puzzles (and a clue to the cosmological constant) Open
We obtain the analytic solution of the Friedmann equation for fully realistic cosmologies including radiation, non-relativistic matter, a cosmological constant λ and arbitrary spatial curvature κ. The general solution for the scale factor …
View article: Existence of real time quantum path integrals
Existence of real time quantum path integrals Open
Many interesting physical theories have analytic classical actions. We show how Feynman's path integral may be defined non-perturbatively, for such theories, without a Wick rotation to imaginary time. We start by introducing a class of smo…
View article: Oscillatory path integrals for radio astronomy
Oscillatory path integrals for radio astronomy Open
We introduce a new method for evaluating the oscillatory integrals which describe natural interference patterns. As an illustrative example of contemporary interest, we consider astrophysical plasma lensing of coherent sources like pulsars…
View article: A Minimal Explanation of the Primordial Cosmological Perturbations
A Minimal Explanation of the Primordial Cosmological Perturbations Open
We outline a new explanation for the primordial density perturbations in cosmology. Dimension zero fields are a minimal addition to the Standard Model of particle physics: if the Higgs doublet is emergent, they cancel the vacuum energy and…
View article: Existence of Real Time Quantum Path Integrals
Existence of Real Time Quantum Path Integrals Open
View article: Thermodynamic solution of the homogeneity, isotropy and flatness puzzles (and a clue to the cosmological constant)
Thermodynamic solution of the homogeneity, isotropy and flatness puzzles (and a clue to the cosmological constant) Open
We obtain the analytic solution of the Friedmann equation for fully realistic cosmologies including radiation, non-relativistic matter, a cosmological constant $λ$ and arbitrary spatial curvature $κ$. The general solution for the scale fac…
View article: The Big Bang as a Mirror: a Solution of the Strong CP Problem
The Big Bang as a Mirror: a Solution of the Strong CP Problem Open
We argue that the Big Bang can be understood as a type of mirror. We show how reflecting boundary conditions for spinors and higher spin fields are fixed by local Lorentz and gauge symmetry, and how a temporal mirror (like the Bang) differ…
View article: Existence of real time quantum path integrals
Existence of real time quantum path integrals Open
Many interesting physical theories have analytic classical actions. We show how Feynman's path integral may be defined non-perturbatively, for such theories, without a Wick rotation to imaginary time. We start by introducing a class of smo…
View article: COVID-19 testing: disparity between national and institution-based case detection
COVID-19 testing: disparity between national and institution-based case detection Open
Reports of COVID-19 prevalence through national statistics, community surveys and targeted testing at places of work or study have guided national and institutional responses to the pandemic. The University of Edinburgh established a mass …
View article: The Big Bang, CPT, and neutrino dark matter
The Big Bang, CPT, and neutrino dark matter Open
View article: Gravitational entropy and the flatness, homogeneity and isotropy puzzles
Gravitational entropy and the flatness, homogeneity and isotropy puzzles Open
We suggest a new explanation for the observed large scale flatness, homogeneity and isotropy of the universe. The basic ingredients are elementary and well-known, namely Einstein's theory of gravity and Hawking's method of computing gravit…
View article: Oscillatory Path Integrals for Radio Astronomy
Oscillatory Path Integrals for Radio Astronomy Open
View article: Cancelling the vacuum energy and Weyl anomaly in the standard model with\n dimension-zero scalar fields
Cancelling the vacuum energy and Weyl anomaly in the standard model with\n dimension-zero scalar fields Open
The standard model is a remarkably consistent and complete quantum field\ntheory but its coupling to gravity and the Higgs field remain problematic, as\nreflected in the cosmological constant problem, the Weyl anomaly, and the\nhierarchy p…
View article: Cancelling the vacuum energy and Weyl anomaly in the standard model with dimension-zero scalar fields
Cancelling the vacuum energy and Weyl anomaly in the standard model with dimension-zero scalar fields Open
The standard model is a remarkably consistent and complete quantum field theory but its coupling to gravity and the Higgs field remain problematic, as reflected in the cosmological constant problem, the Weyl anomaly, and the hierarchy puzz…
View article: Two-Sheeted Universe, Analyticity and the Arrow of Time
Two-Sheeted Universe, Analyticity and the Arrow of Time Open
Our universe seems to be radiation dominated at early times, and vacuum energy dominated at late times. When we consider the maximal analytic extension of this spacetime, its symmetries and complex analytic properties suggest a picture in …
View article: Implementation of an efficient SARS-CoV-2 specimen pooling strategy for high throughput diagnostic testing
Implementation of an efficient SARS-CoV-2 specimen pooling strategy for high throughput diagnostic testing Open
View article: Author Correction: A pooled testing strategy for identifying SARS-CoV-2 at low prevalence
Author Correction: A pooled testing strategy for identifying SARS-CoV-2 at low prevalence Open
View article: Implementation of an efficient SARS-CoV-2 specimen pooling strategy for high throughput diagnostic testing
Implementation of an efficient SARS-CoV-2 specimen pooling strategy for high throughput diagnostic testing Open
The rapid identification and isolation of infected individuals remains a key strategy for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Frequent testing of populations to detect infection early in asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals can be …
View article: A pooled testing strategy for identifying SARS-CoV-2 at low prevalence
A pooled testing strategy for identifying SARS-CoV-2 at low prevalence Open
View article: Gravitational lensing of binary systems in wave optics
Gravitational lensing of binary systems in wave optics Open
We present the first detailed computations of wave optics effects in the gravitational lensing of binary systems. The field is conceptually rich, combining the caustic singularities produced in classical gravitational lensing with quantum …
View article: A strategy for finding people infected with SARS-CoV-2: optimizing pooled testing at low prevalence
A strategy for finding people infected with SARS-CoV-2: optimizing pooled testing at low prevalence Open
Suppressing SARS-CoV-2 will likely require the rapid identification and isolation of infected individuals, on an ongoing basis. RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) tests are accurate but costly, making regular testing …
View article: A strategy for finding people infected with SARS-CoV-2: optimizing\n pooled testing at low prevalence
A strategy for finding people infected with SARS-CoV-2: optimizing\n pooled testing at low prevalence Open
Suppressing SARS-CoV-2 will likely require the rapid identification and\nisolation of infected individuals, on an ongoing basis. RT-PCR (reverse\ntranscription polymerase chain reaction) tests are accurate but costly, making\nregular testi…
View article: LRP 2020 Whitepaper: The Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD)
LRP 2020 Whitepaper: The Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD) Open
The Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD) is a next-generation radio telescope, proposed for construction to start immediately. CHORD is a pan-Canadian project, designed to work with and build on the success of…
View article: Theoretical Astrophysics in Canada
Theoretical Astrophysics in Canada Open
Theory plays an essential role in astrophysics, both in planning and motivating observations or experiments, and in extracting deeper understanding from their findings. As investment in infrastructure grows, co-investment in theory should …
View article: Quantum incompleteness of inflation
Quantum incompleteness of inflation Open
Inflation is most often described using quantum field theory (QFT) on a fixed, curved spacetime background. Such a description is valid only if the spatial volume of the region considered is so large that its size and shape moduli behave c…
View article: Oscillatory path integrals for radio astronomy
Oscillatory path integrals for radio astronomy Open
We introduce a new method for evaluating the oscillatory integrals which describe natural interference patterns. As an illustrative example of contemporary interest, we consider astrophysical plasma lensing of coherent sources like pulsars…