This award supports a dissertation enhancement project on how to reconcile quantum mechanics with the theory of relativity. The graduate student, Alisa Ellingson, proposes to conduct research under the direction of James Cushing of the University of Notre Dame and in cooperation with Harvey Brown of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The objective of the research is to study a new formulation of relativity which postulates a preferred reference frame, yet makes all of the same empirical predictions as the theory of special relativity. Claims of empirical evidence will be critically examined. If correct, the theory of special relativity and the structure of space-time will be reassessed and the relevance of this work to the larger project of reconciling quantum mechanics with relativity will be shown.
