Léon Rosenfeld and how historical studies can help to shed light on our striving for quantum gravity

02.07.2021, 11:00  –  Online Seminar
Arbeitsgruppenseminar Analysis

Bernadette Lessel (MPI für Wissenschaftsgeschichte in Berlin)

Léon Rosenfeld, probably mostly known as a close collaborator of Niels Bohr, is considered to having been the first person to have ever attempted a quantization of the gravitational field in the modern sense in 1930. However, soon after he turned his back against this work of his and argued against the necessity and meaningfulness of non-empirically founded field quantization altogether. In this historically oriented talk we want to examine the reasons behind Rosenfeld's change of attitude and reflect upon conclusions we can draw from this about the, still ongoing, endeavor of finding a quantum theory of gravity.

Forthcoming speakers are Ihsane Malass on July 9th, Diego López on July 16th, Larisa Jonke on July 23rd.
You are welcome to suggest speakers or topics for the forthcoming sessions.

You are welcome to invite your friends and colleagues to join us! If you wish to attend the talks,  please contact Sylvie Paycha paycha@math.uni-potsdam.de for the login details.