Title: Unimodular JT Gravity
Presenter: Farbod-Sayyed Rassouli (University of Nottingham)
Time & Date: Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 (Khordad 7th, 1404), 14:00 IRST
Place: Participation Link (https://meet.google.com/rzp-vtxh-dbf)
Abstract: In this talk, I will show how a gauge-theoretic approach to Jackiw–Teitelboim (JT) gravity naturally yields a two-dimensional Henneaux–Teitelboim (HT) unimodular theory, applicable to both flat and curved spacetimes. Under a mini-superspace reduction, the Wheeler–DeWitt equation becomes a Schrödinger-like equation admitting a consistent, unitary quantum description. The resulting wavefunction describes a quantum distribution for the scale factor, illuminating cosmic expansion and contraction, and allowing topology change at a=0.
Presentation File (TBA)