Entanglement, von Neumann algebras, and the emergence of spacetime

Learning seminar on Black Hole thermodynamics

To gain an up-to-date understanding about the field of Black Hole thermodynamics.

Please fill out the following form if you are interested to be a speaker: https://forms.gle/FcsSwXbXcCLoBxPG8

For more information, please see the attached file or check at https://bimsa.net/activity/LeasemonBlaHolthe/

Organizer：

Bowen Zhao (BIMSA)

Speaker：

Hong Liu (MIT)

Time：

Fri.,10:30 am-12:00, Mar. 14, 2025

Venue：

Jingzhai 静斋 105

Online：

Zoom Meeting ID: 518 868 7656

Password: BIMSA

Title:

Entanglement, von Neumann algebras, and the emergence of spacetime

Abstract：

Einstein's General Relativity says gravity is a manifestation of dynamic spacetime. There are, however, hints—particularly from string theory—that spacetime may be an emergent concept, analogous to fluids arising from large collections of molecules at macroscopic scales.

Entanglement, which describes intrinsic quantum correlations without classical counterparts, was recognized early by Einstein, Podolsky, Rosen, and Schrödinger in the 1930s, but its significance in quantum many-body systems only gained prominence since the 2000s. Concurrently, von Neumann's work in the late 1920s and early 1930s on the mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics led to the development of operator algebras (now called von Neumann algebras), which have found wide applications in mathematics, but not so much in physics.

These three seemingly disparate subjects—emergence of spacetime, entanglement, and von Neumann algebras—are now understood to be intricately connected, providing new languages and powerful tools for characterizing the emergence of spacetime.