General
Relativity at 100: Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton
University Celebrate the Enduring Reach, Power and Mysteries of
Einstein’s Theory
Victoria Kaspi - November 5, 2015
https://www.ias.edu/gr100Albert
Einstein’s general theory of relativity, a pillar of modern physics
formulated 100 years ago, will be celebrated by the Institute for
Advanced Study and Princeton University in a two-day conference, General
Relativity at 100. The conference, which will feature ten
colloquium-style talks by international experts on diverse aspects of
general relativity and its fascinating history—from cosmology to quantum
gravity, from black holes to neutron stars—will take place in
Wolfensohn Hall on the Institute’s campus on November 5–6. The
conference will also celebrate the seminal role of Princeton physicists,
particularly John Wheeler and Bob Dicke and their students, in
advancing an examination of general relativity.
“The general
theory of relativity is based on profound and elegant principles that
connect the physics of motion and mass to the geometry of space and
time,” stated Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director of the Institute and Leon Levy
Professor. “With Einstein’s equations, even the universe itself became
an object of study. Only now, after a century of calculations and
observations, the full power of this theory has become visible, from
black holes and gravitational lenses to the practical use of GPS
devices.”
Einstein was one of the Institute’s first Faculty
members, serving from 1933 until his death in 1955, and played a
significant part in its early development. Einstein came to the United
States to take up his appointment at the invitation of Abraham Flexner,
the Institute’s Founding Director. Today, theorists at the Institute
continue to interpret and test Einstein’s theory of general relativity,
about which questions persist: What is the physics of black holes? Do
space and time emerge from a more fundamental description? Why is the
universe accelerating? How can general relativity be reconciled with
quantum mechanics? What are the origins and the long-term fate of the
universe?
The celebration will open on November 4 with a special
performance of Light Falls: Space, Time, and an Obsession of Einstein, a
dramatic portrayal of Einstein’s discovery of the general theory of
relativity, at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium. Light
Falls, written by Brian Greene, Member (1992-93) in the Institute’s
School of Natural Sciences and Professor of Theoretical Physics at
Columbia University, composed by Jeff Beal (“House of Cards”), designed
by 59 Productions (“An American in Paris”) and directed by Scott Faris
(“Walking with Dinosaurs”), is an original work weaving together
dramatic portrayals, state-of-the-art animation and innovative
projection techniques to trace Einstein’s electrifying journey toward
one of the most beautiful ideas ever conceived.
The conference
will close on November 6 with a recital for the Institute campus
community by world-acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell and a screening of
the new documentary Einstein’s Light by Nickolas Barris, Director’s
Visitor (2013) at the Institute and founder of Imaginary Films.
Einstein’s Light explores how scientific imagination and innovation
advance knowledge, with Einstein and Dutch Nobel Laureate Hendrik
Lorentz as models. The film examines Einstein’s discoveries as well as
modern examples of scientific imagination and innovation, highlighting
institutions such as the Institute and others around the world. Bruce
Adolphe’s score reflects the power of music as a catalyst for Einstein’s
scientific creativity and his deep connection to the music of Mozart
and Bach. Joshua Bell’s performance at the Institute will mark the world
premiere of the score set to the final visualization from the film.
Major support for the General Relativity at 100 conference and related events has been provided by Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
More videos on
http://video.ias.edu