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The current research of the group focuses on the foundations of theories of space, time, and gravity. The most successful theory in this domain is still Einstein's general theory of relativity (GR). However, important concepts that are now crucial for the understanding of both the theory and the universe it aims to describe have only been created in the last few decades; this applies in particular to the description of black holes and gravitational waves, which were experimentally discovered as recently as 2015. The international community of historians and philosophers of physics is only just beginning to engage with these developments. The group wants to bridge the divide by pursuing three interrelated projects.
Projects
COGY
The Centre of Gravity (COGY) project, supported by the European Research Council (ERC), explores the history of general in the period 1955-1975. This period, referred to by both physicists and historians as the Renaissance of General Relativity (GR), revolutionized the theory and its practice and laid the foundation for both gravitational waves astronomy and black hole physics. Many of the concepts and mathematical tools that dominate modern GR originated in the renaissance period as did most of the research programs that test it empirically. The COGY project provides the first detailed reconstruction and analysis of these monumental theoretical changes. Focusing on each of the leading research groups of the Renaissance period individually, we strive to produce a comprehensive database of publications, research notes and scientific correspondence. In addition, we trace key concepts and methods across the different groups to expose their evolution and influence throughout the Renaissance period. Examples include conformal diagrams, optical-gravitational analogues and the Petrov-Pirani-Penrose classification. The COGY project benefits from collaboration with many institutions and individuals including key living figures from the Renaissance period such as Sir Roger Penrose and Wolfgang Kundt.
Solutions as the solution to understanding General Relativity
This project investigates the solution space of the Einstein equations, and how different solutions are applied, in particular, to describe black holes and gravitational waves
Einstein's interpretation of gravity
"The Albert Einstein Archives (AEA), Hebrew University of Jerusalem "
The first project of the Lichtenberg group explored Einstein's own interpretational and conceptual work on GR in the 25 years after his discovery of the Einstein field equations, the fundamental law of gravity at the core of the theory, in 1915.
COGY
The Centre of Gravity (COGY) project, supported by the European Research Council (ERC), explores the history of general in the period 1955-1975. This period, referred to by both physicists and historians as the Renaissance of General Relativity (GR), revolutionized the theory and its practice and laid the foundation for both gravitational waves astronomy and black hole physics. Many of the concepts and mathematical tools that dominate modern GR originated in the renaissance period as did most of the research programs that test it empirically. The COGY project provides the first detailed reconstruction and analysis of these monumental theoretical changes. Focusing on each of the leading research groups of the Renaissance period individually, we strive to produce a comprehensive database of publications, research notes and scientific correspondence. In addition, we trace key concepts and methods across the different groups to expose their evolution and influence throughout the Renaissance period. Examples include conformal diagrams, optical-gravitational analogues and the Petrov-Pirani-Penrose classification. The COGY project benefits from collaboration with many institutions and individuals including key living figures from the Renaissance period such as Sir Roger Penrose and Wolfgang Kundt.
Solutions as the solution to understanding General Relativity
This project investigates the solution space of the Einstein equations, and how different solutions are applied, in particular, to describe black holes and gravitational waves
Einstein's interpretation of gravity
"The Albert Einstein Archives (AEA), Hebrew University of Jerusalem "
The first project of the Lichtenberg group explored Einstein's own interpretational and conceptual work on GR in the 25 years after his discovery of the Einstein field equations, the fundamental law of gravity at the core of the theory, in 1915.