Bonn 2001 – scientific programme

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MP: Theoretische und Mathematische Grundlagen der Physik

MP V: HV V

MP V.1: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 28, 2001, 14:00–15:00, HS VIII

Quantum Inequalities on the Renormalised Stress Energy Tensor — •Chris Fewster — Department of Mathematics, University of York, UK

It has been known for many years that the renormalised energy density of a quantum field at a given point is unbounded from below as a function of the quantum state. There has been much speculation that quantum fields could therefore be used as sources of ‘exotic matter’ to construct spacetimes with unusual properties (examples include wormholes and Alcubierre’s ‘warp drive’ spacetime). Recently ‘quantum inequalities’ have been developed which provide lower bounds on weighted averages of the energy density and which tightly constrain attempts to use quantum fields in this way. This talk will review the subject of quantum inequalities and will in particular show how techniques from microlocal analysis can be used to obtain general results in this area.