Contact: a.eichhorn[AT]thphys.uni-heidelberg.deLocation: Leiden, the Netherlands
Quantum Gravity research explores physics beyond the well-established standard models of particle physics and cosmology. It aims at reconciling the laws of quantum mechanics, governing physics at the (sub-)atomic scales, with general relativity, describing the gravitational force at macroscopic scales. During the last years there has been a growing awareness throughout the quantum gravity community that renormalization group techniques may constitute a crucial element in achieving this goal. Today, this idea has reached a stage where cross-fertilization between different quantum gravity programs will be fruitful. Moreover, some programs have reached a maturity where a connection between physics at the Planck scale and energy scales accessible by experiments could become feasible. In this light, this workshop will critically review the current state of open conceptual questions in asymptotic safety and neighboring fields. Furthermore, opportunities for observing quantum gravity signatures in astrophysics, cosmology and particle physics will be discussed.
The workshop brings together experts on various approaches to quantum gravity, cosmology and particle physics. Its focus is on developing road-maps for addressing the conceptual challenges and exploring phenomenological consequences of quantum gravity in a coherent and efficient way. The relaxed format offers plenty of room for identifying new points of common interest and forming new collaborations among researchers with complementary expertise.