Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/11/2005
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Title: Testing Einstein’s Universe

Speaker: Dr. Norbert Bartell

Institute: York University

Location: ABB 102

Description:

Black holes as massive as billions of suns combined, spacetime with curves and warps and galaxies moving at nearly the speed of light — this is Einstein’s universe. For ninety years, Einsteins general theory of relativity has held its place. Now, the Gravity Probe B mission led by NASA and Stanford University and supported by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and York University, puts Einstein to the test as never before.

General relativity and quantum theory are the two pillars of modern physics. However, they are completely incompatible. Quantum theory has given us our modern world from the atom bomb to TV and is therefore verified almost every day. General relativity, in contrast, remains verified only at a moderate level of precision. Could it be that Einstein’s theory breaks down at some level?

I will talk about these issues, explain the working of Gravity Probe B, and show our film “Testing Einstein’s Universe.”