Decoding a Flat Space Hologram

Event Date:
2025-10-21T16:00:00
2025-10-21T17:00:00
Event Location:
HENN 318
Speaker:
Sabrina Pasterski, Perimeter Institute
Related Upcoming Events:
Pioneers in Theoretical Physics
Intended Audience:
Everyone
Local Contact:

Gordon Semenoff (gordonws@phas.ubc.ca)

*refreshments will be served at 3:45pm

All are welcome to this event!

Event Information:

Abstract:

The holographic principle suggests that quantum gravity can be described by an equivalent lower-dimensional field theory. 
While this idea is well-established in anti–de Sitter space, extending it to more realistic settings remains an open challenge. 
This talk presents recent progress toward a flat space hologram, where scattering amplitudes are expressed as correlators 
at null infinity. I will discuss how asymptotic symmetries guide a new framework linking infrared physics, quantum information, 
and the organization of scattering data, and outline key questions still to be resolved.

Bio:


Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski  (PhD Harvard University, 2019) is a high energy theorist who joined the Perimeter faculty in 2021 after completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Princeton Centre for Theoretical Science. Her research prior to joining PI includes discovering infinite dimensional symmetry enhancements of the S-matrix, a new observable memory effect in gravity, and a framework for generalizing these features of infrared physics to other theories. As the founder and principal investigator of our new Celestial Holography Initiative, she is leading a team of amplitudes, mathematical physics, and quantum gravity researchers in a concerted effort to tackle the problem of uniting our understanding of spacetime with quantum theory by encoding our universe as a hologram.

Learn More:

Resources:

Add to Calendar 2025-10-21T16:00:00 2025-10-21T17:00:00 Decoding a Flat Space Hologram Event Information: Abstract: The holographic principle suggests that quantum gravity can be described by an equivalent lower-dimensional field theory. While this idea is well-established in anti–de Sitter space, extending it to more realistic settings remains an open challenge. This talk presents recent progress toward a flat space hologram, where scattering amplitudes are expressed as correlators at null infinity. I will discuss how asymptotic symmetries guide a new framework linking infrared physics, quantum information, and the organization of scattering data, and outline key questions still to be resolved. Bio: Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski  (PhD Harvard University, 2019) is a high energy theorist who joined the Perimeter faculty in 2021 after completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Princeton Centre for Theoretical Science. Her research prior to joining PI includes discovering infinite dimensional symmetry enhancements of the S-matrix, a new observable memory effect in gravity, and a framework for generalizing these features of infrared physics to other theories. As the founder and principal investigator of our new Celestial Holography Initiative, she is leading a team of amplitudes, mathematical physics, and quantum gravity researchers in a concerted effort to tackle the problem of uniting our understanding of spacetime with quantum theory by encoding our universe as a hologram. Learn More: Read about her on the Perimeter Institute website: Sabrina Pasterski | Perimeter Institute Read her Wikipedia page: Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski - Wikipedia Watch her on Youtube: Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski: Planes, Symmetries, and a New Map of the Universe At Women in Tech Summit 2019: Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski at Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit 2019 2007 PBS Interview: Sabrina's 2007 PBS Interview Resources: What is Celestial Holography: Celestial Holography Initiative | Perimeter Institute What is the S-matrix: S-matrix - Wikipedia Event Location: HENN 318