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Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the UniverseWPI

Focus Week on Quantum Black Holes
September 12-16 2008, IPMU, Tokyo University Kashiwa


We plan to have a focus week on quantum black holes from September 12th (Friday) to 16th (Tuesday), 2008.

Understanding quantum mechanics of black holes has been an important challenge to any theory of quantum gravity. In string theory, following the successful derivation of the black hole entropy formula by Strominger and Vafa, there have been important developments toward an ultimate resolution of the information paradox by making use of D branes, the AdS/CFT correspondence, and matrix models. At the same time, the AdS/CFT correspondence has experienced spectacular successes in its applications to thermal properties of quark-gluon plasma, to the low energy effective theory of QCD, to quantum phase transition and quantum fluid, and to cold atoms. They may teach us something on quantum black holes too.

Given such developments, the time is right to bring together researchers on quantum black holes, broadly defined, who can interact with each other and compare notes. The aim of this focus week is foster further progress in understanding quantum black holes and developing a new language - new mathematics - to describe quantum gravity.

Lecturers from abroad include,
  • Atish Dabholkar (Paris 6)
  • Veronika Hubeny, Mukund Rangamani (University of Durham)
  • Norihiro Iizuka (KITP, Santa Barbara)
  • Daniel Kabat (Columbia University)
  • Gautam Mandal, Sunil Mukhi (TIFR, Munbai).

Lecturers from Japan include,
  • Satoshi Iso, Makoto Natsuume, Jun Nishimura (KEK)
  • Yoshihiro Sekino (OIQP)
  • Koji Hashimoto (RIKEN)
  • Yoshifumi Hyakutake (Osaka University)
  • Wei Li, Tadashi Takayanagi (IPMU).

Prospective participants should register before September 6th at the registration page. On September 12th, we are planning an informal banquet for speakers and registered participants.
[Registration Form]

We invite applicants for discussants.

We hope that this focus week will provide plenty of opportunities for informal discussions. To encourage active scientists in this area to participate in the focus week, we have a limited budget to cover domestic travel expenses and local expenses for "discussants". If you are interested in such an opportunity, please send a message to Topological.Strings_at_gmail.com (Topological.Strings being plural) including:
  • (1) Your name and affiliation
  • (2) Your recent research accomplishments and current interest
  • (3) Explain why you are interested in participating in the focus week as a discussant.
We will be able to offer financial supports for up to 10 discussants. The deadline of applications is August 23rd (Japan Time).


Organizers: Norihiro Iizuka, Hirosi Ooguri

Location: Media Hall, Kashiwa Library, the Kashiwa Campus of the University of Tokyo

Schedule: