The Quantum Gravity Group’s goal is to understand the fundamental building blocks of spacetime and matter.
We therefore investigate quantum theories of gravity, most importantly asymptotically safe gravity and causal set quantum gravity. We focus on the interplay of quantum spacetime with matter, both in and beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. We investigate, how this interplay determines properties of matter that can be tested experimentally. In this way, we aim at testing quantum gravity through observations in particle physics in the visible and the dark sector.
Further, we explore the implications of quantum gravity for black holes and black-hole images. We investigate black holes and horizonless spacetimes inspired by asymptotically safe quantum gravity, but also investigate black holes beyond General Relativity more broadly. We focus on understanding whether the resolution of black-hole singularities through quantum gravity effects can percolate into observable effects outside the black-hole horizon.
In summary, we probe quantum gravity at all scales: First, we probe it theoretically at the Planck scale, by using the mathematical analogue of a microscope, the Renormalization Group. Second, we develop leverarms, that translate effects of quantum gravity at the Planck scale into detectable effects at particle-physics scales and in black-hole spacetimes.