Fundamental Theory

The main area of interest is how quantum mechanics changes ideas about space-time. The fundamental uncertainties inherent in quantum mechanics cause severe deformation of
space-time structure at very small scales, breaking down the smooth manifold structure of general relativity into something called quantum foam. Dr. Babar Ahmed Qureshi explores these phenomena by studying field theories on these structures. He is interested in studying how space-time itself, along with quantum fields, emerges from more fundamental objects such as matrices, as hinted by M-theory. At the same time he is also curious about the cosmological implications of these ideas. Other focus areas include many mathematical aspects of physics including quantum groups and their use in describing Quantum Hall States, which may be of particular use in devising a practical quantum computer. He is also working on some aspects of the now famous duality between gravitational and gauge theories.