Frederic Schuller, an award-winning theoretical physicist, dives into the groundbreaking idea of deriving gravity from electromagnetism. He challenges conventional wisdom about energy flow in quantum systems and discusses how modest ideas can ignite revolutions in spacetime theory. Schuller explores the connections between gravity and matter dynamics, proposing new ways to think about gravitational constructs. He also shares insights on teaching physics effectively, emphasizing clarity and rigorous mathematical foundations to engage students in complex concepts.
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Probability Ports Replace Energy Ports
Frederic Schuller applies Port-Hamiltonian ideas to quantum mechanics by replacing energy ports with probability ports.
He argues probability, not energy, flows between subsystems in quantum systems.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Focus On One Clear Idea
Pursue one clear idea deeply rather than many half-formed ideas simultaneously.
Let the idea force you to the next necessary steps and discard dead ends quickly.
insights INSIGHT
Matter Dynamics Constrain Gravity
Starting from matter dynamics on a background, you can derive which gravitational dynamics make the combined theory predictive.
For Maxwell electromagnetism on a background, the construction yields the Einstein-Hilbert action with cosmological constant.
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In this episode, I speak with Frederic Schuller, an award-winning theoretical physicist and professor, who insists the undergrad tale of energy sloshing between kinetic and potential is just talk unless the math says so. Borrowing Port-Hamiltonian thinking, he’s building probability ports to pull measurement talk into actual quantum formalism—no change to QM, just sharper math. He also flips gravity: start from the matter action and construct the compatible gravitational dynamics—Maxwell in, Einstein–Hilbert out. And if nature ever breaks our current causal picture, the scheme points to richer structures (and the gravity to match)—a modest idea, pushed hard.
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Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Deriving Einstein from Maxwell Alone
- 05:55 - Why Energy Doesn't Flow in Quantum Systems
- 11:45 - How Modest Ideas Lead to Spacetime Revolution
- 19:00 - Matter Dynamics Dictate Spacetime Geometry
- 24:03 - Maxwell to Einstein-Hilbert Action
- 31:00 - If Light Rays Split in Vacuum Then Einstein is Wrong
- 38:04 - When Your Theory is Wrong
- 46:10 - From Propositional Logic to Differential Geometry
- 54:00 - Never Use Motivating Examples
- 1:02:00 - Why Only Active Researchers Should Teach
- 1:09:40 - High Demands as Greatest Motivator
- 1:16:00 - Is Gravity a Force?
- 1:27:00 - Academic Freedom vs Bureaucratic Science
- 1:38:00 - Why String Theory Didn't Feel Right
- 1:46:05 - Formal vs Conceptual Understanding
- 1:54:10 - Master Any Subject: Check Every Equal Sign
- 2:04:00 - The Drama of Blackboard Teaching
- 2:13:15 - Why Physical Presence Matters in Universities
Links Mentioned:
- Frederic’s Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations
- Frederic’s Lectures: https://www.youtube.com/@FredericSchuller
- Frederic’s Bio: https://people.utwente.nl/f.p.schuller
- General Relativity Lecture Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist
- Quantum Harmonic Oscillator [Lecture]: https://youtu.be/s3I_MGfGm-w
- Constructive Gravity [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2003.09726
- Geometry Of Manifolds [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0508170
- Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo
- Roger Penrose [TOE]: https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU
- All Possible Paths [TOE]: https://youtu.be/XcY3ZtgYis0
- Neil Turok [TOE]: https://youtu.be/ZUp9x44N3uE
- Space-Time Structure [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/Space-Time-Structure-Cambridge-Science-Classics/dp/0521315204
- Greg Chaitin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/PoEuav8G6sY
- Ivette Fuentes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/cUj2TcZSlZc
- Ted Jacobson [TOE]: https://youtu.be/3mhctWlXyV8
- Eva Miranda [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo
- Jonathan Oppenheim [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6Z_p3viqW1g
- String Theory Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY
- Sabine Hossenfelder [TOE]: https://youtu.be/E3y-Z0pgupg
- Leonard Susskind [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok
- What Is Energy? [TOE]: https://youtu.be/hQk9GLZ0Fms
- Claudia De Rham [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Ve_Mpd6dGv8
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Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal 