In this thesis, we discuss several phenomena exhibiting `limiting behaviour' in physics. This includes the duality principle, delegated quantum computation, and super-resolution. The duality principle places a limit on the coexistence of wave and particle behaviours. We develop a framework that explains apparent violations of this principle while staying within the scope of quantum mechanics. In addition, we relate the duality principle to the sub-fidelity and weak-values. We also show that the maximum recoverable coherence of a qubit has a sharp transition from 0 to 1 when we have access to half of the environment to which the qubit is correlated. Delegated quantum computation consists of a computational weak client who wishes to delegate a complex quantum computation to a powerful quantum server. We develop a new protocol for delegated quantum computation requiring less quantum power than its predecessor. Finally, we develop and test a new theory for eigenmode super-resolution.

In this thesis, we present a detailed exposition of Koszul algebras and Koszul duality. We begin with an overview of the required concepts of graded algebras and homological algebra. We then give a precise treatment of Koszul and quadratic algebras, together with their dualities. We fill in some arguments that are omitted in the literature and work out a number of examples in full detail to illustrate the abstract concepts.

A norm ||⋅|| on a Banach space X is Fréchet differentiable at x ∈ X if there is a functional ∫∈ X* such that [Formula Omitted] This concept reflects the smoothness characteristics of X. A dual Banach space X* has the Radon-Nikodym Property (RNP) if whenever C ⊂ X* is weak*-compact and convex, and ∈ > 0, there is an x ∈ X and an ⍺ > 0 such that diameter [Formula Omitted] this property reflects the convexity characteristics of X*. Culminating several years of work by many researchers, the following theorem established a strong connection between the smoothness of X and the convexity of X*: Every equivalent norm on X is Fréchet differentiable on a dense set if and only if X* has the RNP. A more general measure of convexity has been recently receiving a great deal of attention: A dual Banach space X* has the weak* Convex Point-of-Continuity Property (C*PCP) if whenever ɸ ≠ C ⊂ X* is weak*-compact and convex, and ∈ > 0, there is a weak*-open set V such that V ⋂ C ≠ ɸ and diam V ⋂ C < ∈. In this thesis, we develop the corresponding smoothness properties of X which are dual to C*PCP. For this, a new type of differentiability, called cofinite Fréchet differentiability, is introduced, and we establish the following theorem: Every equivalent norm on X is cofinitely Fréchet differentiable everywhere if and only if X* has the C*PCP. Representing joint work with R. Deville, G. Godefroy and V. Zizler, an alternate approach is developed in the case when X is separable. We show that if X is separable, then every equivalent norm on X which has a strictly convex dual is Fréchet differentiable on a dense set if and only if X* has the C*PCP, if and only if every equivalent norm on X which is Gâteaux differentiable (everywhere) is Fréchet differentiable on a dense set. This result is used to show that if X* does not have the C*PCP, then there is a subspace Y of X such that neither Y* nor (X/Y)* have the C*PCP, yet both Y and X/Y have finite dimensional Schauder decompositions. The corresponding result for spaces X* failing the RNP remains open. / Science, Faculty of / Mathematics, Department of / Graduate

The paradoxical nature of society leads to great dualities in the study of motion and space, creating conflicting relationships. The role of the architectural design is to facilitate these motions to become a stage for the spectacle in its immediate context. The dissertation presents an architectural proposal that addresses the notion of duality. By identifying the possibilities within a liminal context, an architectural narrative creates scenarios as a possible response. The author investigates the manifestation of multiple programmes, a leather workshop, bakery and bar within the South African urban context of Pretoria West. The architectural exploration aims to enrich public life in a liminal space on the periphery of the city. Challenges associated with the typology of duality are addressed through the integration with the immediate context to ensure its sustainability. The aim is to celebrate the edge condition and the spaces commonly overlooked. / Dissertation MArch(Prof)-University of Pretoria, 2012. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

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This work develops theoretical and applied results for variational convex analysis. First we present the basic tools of analysis necessary to develop the core theory and applications. New results concerning duality principles for systems originally modeled by non-linear differential equations are shown in chapters 9 to 17. A key aspect of this work is that although the original problems are non-linear with corresponding non-convex variational formulations, the dual formulations obtained are almost always concave and amenable to numerical computations. When the primal problem has no solution in the classical sense, the solution of dual problem is a weak limit of minimizing sequences, and the evaluation of such average behavior is important in many practical applications. Among the results we highlight the dual formulations for micro-magnetism, phase transition models, composites in elasticity and conductivity and others. To summarize, in the present work we introduce convex analysis as an interesting alternative approach for the understanding and computation of some important problems in the modern calculus of variations. / Ph. D.

In this thesis, we investigate four dimensional supersymmetric indices. The motivation for studying such objects lies in the physics of Seiberg's electric-magnetic duality in supersymmetric field theories. In the first chapter, we first define the index and underline its cohomological nature, before giving a first computation based on representation theory of free superconformal field theories. After listing all representations of the superconformal algebra based on shortening conditions, we compute the associated Verma module characters, from which we can extract the index in the appropriate limit. This approach only provides us with the free field theory limit for the index and does not account for the values of the $R$-charges away from free field theories. To circumvent this limitation, we then study a theory on $\mathbb{R}\times S^3$ which allows for a computation of the superconformal index for multiplets with non-canonical $R$-charges. We expand the fields in harmonics and canonically quantise the theory to analyse the set of quantum states, identifying the ones that contribute to the index. To go beyond free field theory on $\mathbb{R}\times S^3$, we then use the localisation principle to compute the index exactly in an interacting theory, regardless of the value of the coupling constant. We then show that the index is independent of a particular geometric deformation of the underlying manifold, by squashing the sphere. In the final chapter, we show how the matching of the index can be used in the large $N$ limit to identify the $R$-charges for all fields of the electric-magnetic theories of the canonical Seiberg duality. We then conclude by outlining potential further work.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The fractional quantum Hall effect represents a true many-body phenomenon in which the collective behaviour of interacting electrons plays a central role. In contrast to its integral counterpart, the appearance of a mobility gap in the fractional quantum Hall regime is due entirely to the Coulomb interaction and is not the result of a perturbed single particle gap. The bulk of our theoretical understanding of the underlying many-body problem is based on Laughlin’s ansatz wave function and the composite fermion picture proposed by Jain. In the latter the fractional quantum Hall effect of interacting electrons is formulated as the integral quantum Hall effect of weakly interacting quasiparticles called composite fermions. The composite fermion picture provides a qualitative description of the interacting system’s low-energy spectrum and leads to a generalisation of Laughlin’s wave functions for the electron ground state. These predictions have been verified through extensive numerical tests. In this work we present an alternative formulation of the composite fermion picture within a more rigorous mathematical framework. Our goal is to establish the relation between the strongly interacting electron problem and its dual description in terms of weakly interacting quasiparticles on the level of the microscopic Hamiltonian itself. This allows us to derive an analytic expression for the interaction induced excitation gap which agrees very well with existing numerical results. We also formulate a mapping between the states of the free particle and interacting descriptions in which the characteristic Jastrow-Slater structure of the composite fermion ansatz appears naturally. Our formalism also serves to clarify several aspects of the standard heuristic construction, particularly with regard to the emergence of the effective magnetic field and the role of higher Landau levels. We also resolve a long standing issue regarding the overlap of unprojected composite fermion trial wave functions with the lowest Landau level of the free particle Hamiltonian. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fraksionele kwantum Hall-effek is ’n veeldeeltjie verskynsel waarin die kollektiewe gedrag van wisselwerkende elektrone ’n sentrale rol speel. In teenstelling met die heeltallige kwantum Hall-effek is die ontstaan van ’n energie gaping in die fraksionele geval nie ’n enkeldeeltjie effek nie, maar kan uitsluitlik aan die Coulomb wisselwerking toegeskryf word. Die teoretiese raamwerk waarbinne hierdie veeldeeltjie probleem verstaan word is grootliks gebaseer op Laughlin se proefgolffunksie en die komposiete-fermion beeld van Jain. In laasgenoemde word die fraksionele kwantum Hall-effek van wisselwerkende elektrone geformuleer as die heeltallige kwantum Hall-effek van swak-wisselwerkende kwasi-deeljies wat as komposiete-fermione bekend staan. Hierdie beeld lewer ’n kwalitatiewe beskrywing van die wisselwerkende sisteem se lae-energie spektrum en lei tot ’n veralgemening van Laughlin se golffunksies vir die elektron grondtoestand. Hierdie voorspellings is deur verskeie numeriese studies geverifieer. In hierdie tesis ontwikkel ons ’n alternatiewe formulering van die komposiete-fermion beeld binne ’n strenger wiskundige raamwerk. Ons doel is om die verband tussen die sterk-wisselwerkende elektron sisteem en sy duale beskrywing in terme van swak-wisselwerkende kwasi-deeltjies op die vlak van die mikroskopiese Hamilton-operator self te realiseer. Hierdie konstruksie lei tot ’n analitiese uitdrukking vir die opwekkingsenergie wat baie goed met bestaande numeriese resultate ooreenstem. Ons identifiseer ook ’n afbeelding tussen die vrye-deeltjie en wisselwerkende toestande waarbinne die Jastrow-Slater struktuur van die komposiete-fermion proefgolffunksies op ’n natuurlike wyse na vore kom. Verder werp ons formalisme nuwe lig op kwessies binne die standaard heuristiese konstruksie, veral met betrekking tot die oorsprong van die effektiewe magneetveld en die rol van ho¨er effektiewe Landau vlakke. Ons lewer ook uitspraak oor die vraagstuk van die oorvleueling van ongeprojekteerde komposiete-fermion golffunksies met die laagste Landau vlak van die vrye-deeltjie Landau probleem.