Reines Lecture Colloquium - Geometrodyamics: Exploring the nonlinear dynamics of curved spacetime via computer simulations and gravitational wave observations

Speaker: 
Kip Thorne
Institution: 
Caltech
Date: 
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Time: 
3:30 pm
Location: 
Calit2
 
Abstract:
A half century ago, John Wheeler challenged his students and colleagues to explore Geometrodynamics:  the nonlinear dynamics of curved spacetime. How does the curvature of spacetime behave when roiled in a storm, like a storm at sea with crashing waves.  We tried to explore this, and failed.  Success eluded us until two new tools became available: computer simulations, and gravitational wave observations.   Kip will describe what these have begun to teach us, and he will offer a vision for the future of Geometrodynamics.
 
Learn more about the Reines Lecture Series at:  http://ps.uci.edu/rls
Host: 
James Bullock