Project Details
Projekt
Metric-Affine Frameworks for Numerical Relativity and Quantum Gravity
Applicant
Armin Van de Venn
Subject Area
Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
Term
since 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 570900169
Despite its remarkable success, Einstein’s General Relativity poses significant challenges for numerical simulations, especially in modeling gravitational waves. The intricate structure of Einstein’s field equations demands advanced mathematical tools and highly sophisticated computational techniques to solve them accurately and stably. To overcome these challenges, researchers are exploring alternative formulations of gravity that offer fresh perspectives on both gravitational physics and numerical methods. One such approach is Metric-Affine Gravity (MAG), in which the affine connection—responsible for the curvature of spacetime—is treated as an independent entity. This extended framework naturally introduces new geometric features such as torsion and nonmetricity, leading to a broader class of gravitational models. The central goal of this project is to investigate specific MAG theories and develop a solid mathematical foundation that enables the numerical relativity community to implement them in simulation codes. These formulations are expected to enhance numerical stability and computational efficiency over the traditional Einstein-based framework. Beyond its potential for numerical applications, MAG also serves as a compelling framework for bridging classical and quantum gravity. Torsion, for instance, couples naturally to spin, making it highly relevant for incorporating quantum fields into gravitational theory. A key research objective is to explore how torsion and nonmetricity might influence quantum gravitational effects. The aim is to develop predictive models that connect these geometric features to observable phenomena.
DFG Programme
WBP Fellowship
International Connection
Estonia
