Quantum Gravity: From General Relativity to Loop Quantum Gravity

Explore a comprehensive lecture on quantum gravity and its relationship with General Relativity, delivered by Prof. Madhavan Varadarajan at the Raman Research Institute's Platinum Jubilee celebration. Begin with a qualitative understanding of Einstein's profound insight that gravity represents the curvature of space and time, forming the foundation of General Relativity. Examine why this classical theory, despite its remarkable accuracy, fails in extreme scenarios like the early Universe and black hole centers. Delve into the compelling reasons for pursuing quantum gravity research and understand the unique conceptual challenges posed by treating space-time geometry as a dynamical variable. Investigate intriguing connections and puzzles emerging from black hole behavior, and conclude with an introduction to Loop Quantum Gravity as a potential approach to reconciling quantum mechanics with gravity. Learn from this presentation given at the prestigious Raman Research Institute, founded by Nobel Laureate Sir C V Raman, as part of their 75th-anniversary celebrations showcasing cutting-edge physics research.