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The Hitchin systems are a remarkable family of integrable models associated to the moduli space of principal bundles on a compact Riemann surface. In this talk, I explain how the loop group uniformization of this moduli space can be used to construct an r-matrix for the Hitchin systems. This r-matrix has been previously used in the description of the Friedan-Schenker connection on the space of conformal blocks.

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Nonclassical causal modeling was developed in order to explain violations of Bell inequalities while adhering to relativistic causal structure and faithfulness -- that is, avoiding fine-tuned causal explanations. Recently, a no-go theorem stronger than Bell's theorem has been derived, based on extensions of Wigner's friend thought experiment: the Local Friendliness (LF) no-go theorem. Here we show that the LF no-go theorem poses formidable challenges for the field of causal modeling, even when nonclassical and/or cyclic causal explanations are considered. We first recast the LF inequalities, one of the key elements of the LF no-go theorem, as special cases of monogamy relations stemming from a statistical marginal problem; we then further recast LF inequalities as causal compatibility inequalities stemming from a nonclassical causal marginal problem, for a causal structure implied by well-motivated causal-metaphysical assumptions. We find that the LF inequalities emerge from the causal modeling perspective even when allowing the latent causes of observed events to admit post-quantum descriptions, such as Generalised Probabilistic Theories (GPT) or even more exotic theories. We further prove that no nonclassical causal model can explain violations of LF inequalities without violating the No Fine-Tuning principle. Finally, we note that these obstacles cannot be overcome even if one were to appeal to cyclic causal models.

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“Saturons" are macroscopic objects that saturate the field theoretic upper bound on microstate degeneracy. Due to their maximal microstate entropy, from a quantum information perspective, saturons and black holes belong to the same universality class with common key properties.  However, as opposed to black holes,  saturons do not require gravity and can emerge via ordinary renormalizable interactions, such as QCD, in the form  of soliton-like states. Due to this feature, saturons serve as laboratories for understanding certain properties of black holes. After reviewing the general properties of saturons, we discuss their implications for fundamental physics and cosmology. In particular, we explain how saturons can lead to a new form of phase transition. 

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Studying galaxy evolution is a human endeavour.  Simulations would ideally include physical models based on relevance, but we are often limited by practical considerations like CPU time and code complexity. I will examine energy inputs to galaxies from radiation and stellar feedback, how they are modeled in simulations, and where they are expected to influence the state of the gas and the overall evolution of a galaxy. I will focus on superbubbles (clustered supernova and stellar wind feedback) and local radiation fields, looking at the differences in what these feedbacks can do in terms of where they act in the galaxy, how that impact changes over cosmic time and how the limitations of simulations have affected our view of them.

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