Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Richard Matzner. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI company.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-94).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 96-98).

The fuzzball model of a black hole is an attempt to resolve the many paradoxes and puzzles of black hole physics that have revealed themselves over the last century. These badly behaved solutions of general relativity have given physicists one of the few laboratories to test candidate quantum theories of gravity. Though little is known about exactly what lies beyond the event horizon, and what the ultimate fate of matter that falls in to a black hole is, we know a few intriguing and elegant semi-classical results that have kept physicists occupied. Among these are the known black hole entropy and the Hawking radiation process.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Neste trabalho foi feito um estudo do limite de Karlhede para ondas pp. Para este fim, uma revisão rigorosa de Geometria Diferencial foi apresentada numa abordagem independente de sistemas de coordenadas. Além da abordagem usual, a curvatura de uma variedade riemanniana foi reescrita usando os formalismos de referenciais, formas diferenciais e espinores do grupo de Lorentz. O problema de equivalência para geometrias riemannianas foi formulado e as peculiaridades de sua aplicação é a Relatividade Geral são delineadas. O limite teórico de Karlhede para espaços-tempo de vácuo de tipo Petrov N foi apresentado. Esse limite é estudado na prática usando técnicas espinores e as condições para sua existência são resolvidas sem a introdução de sistemas de coordenadas. / In this work a study of the Karlhede limit was made. To this end, a thorough review of Differential Geometry was presented in a coordinate independent approach. Besides the usual approach, the curvature of a riemannian manifold was rewritten using the formalisms of frames, differential forms and Lorentz group spinors. The equivalence problem for riemannian geometries was formulated and the peculiarities of its application to General Relativity are outlined. The theoretical Karlhede limit for vacuum Petrov N space-times is presented. This limit was studied in practice using spinor techniques and the conditions for its existence are solved without introducing coordinate systems.

This thesis investigates applications of the gauge/gravity duality to strongly coupled quantum field theories. After a review of the duality and of correlators and transport in quantum systems, we present our results on second-order non-conformal hydrodynamics. We derive new Kubo formulae for five second-order transport coefficients in non-conformal relativistic fluids. We then apply these Kubo formulae to a class of non-conformal holographic fluids at infinite coupling. We find strong evidence that the Haack-Yarom identity, known to relate second-order coefficients in conformal holographic fluids at infinite coupling, continues to hold in holographic fluids without conformal symmetry: Within our class of models, we prove that it still holds when leading non-conformal corrections are taken into account, and we show numerically that it is also obeyed beyond leading order. This provides further evidence that the identity may be a universal feature of strongly coupled fluids. Next, we present our results on magnetic spin impurities in strongly correlated systems. We build a holographic two-impurity Kondo model, identifying the inter-impurity interaction as double-trace deformation. Our numerical results for the phase diagram suggest a quantum phase transition between a trivial phase with uncorrelated spins and no Kondo screening, and a non-trivial phase with anti-ferromagnetic correlations and simultaneous Kondo screening. Computing the spectrum in the single-impurity case, we observe Fano resonances, which at low temperatures we identify with the Kondo resonance.

Boucle gravité quantique (LQG) est une tentative pour résoudre le problème de la gravité quantique. Boucle cosmologie quantique (LQC) est une tentative d'appliquer LQG à la cosmologie précoce. Le but de LQC est de se connecter LQG avec des observations. Il est très difficile d'observer les effets de la gravité quantique parce que la densité d'énergie énorme est très probablement nécessaire. Ceci est exactement pourquoi l'Univers est choisi comme une étape pour rechercher des phénomènes de gravité quantique.Le résultat central de LQC est que la grande singularité bang est remplacé par un gros rebond. Toutefois, ce ne sont pas quelque chose qui est possible d'observer aujourd'hui. Pour cette raison, nous avons étudié la façon dont les perturbations cosmiques sont affectées par LQC. Nous avons utilisé l'approche dite d'algèbre déformée, et nous avons calculé les spectres obtenus pour les deux perturbations scalaires et tenseurs. Les spectres que nous avons trouvé ne sont pas compatibles avec l'observation. Cependant cela ne peut abeille considérée comme très forte preuve contre LQG car il y a trop d'hypothèses sur le chemin. Plutôt cela est le résultat de cette interprétation spécifique de LQC.Nous avons également étudié la dynamique de fond (la partie homogène des équations) de LQC. Depuis lent-roll inflation est essentielle pour expliquer de nombreuses caractéristiques de l'univers, y compris le CMB, nous voulons savoir si lent-roll inflation est compatible avec LQC. Nous avons constaté que, en effet, il est. Si un champ d'inflation potentiel carré est ajouté à la théorie, le rebond va lever l'énergie potentielle suffisante pour fournir environ 145 e-plis de lent-roll inflation. Toutefois, lorsque anisotropies sont pris en compte, le montant de l'inflation diminue, et peut même disparaître complètement s'il y a trop de cisaillement au moment du rebond.Nous avons dérivé l'équation Friedman modifié pour anisotrope LQC. Cela nous a permis d'étudier anisotrope LQC pas seulement numériquement, mais aussi analytiquement, qui nous a donné une compréhension beaucoup plus complète de la situation que ce qui était connu auparavant.Enfin, nous avons étudié certains aspects géométriques de l'espace de Sitter, qui a donné lieu à deux considérations très différentes. Tout d'abord nous avons constaté que nous pouvons, pour une théorie générale de la cosmologie modifiée et sous certaines hypothèses assez conservatrices, tirer la dynamique d'un univers spatialement incurvée, étant donné la dynamique d'un un espace plat. Cela est pertinent dans les théories telles que LQC, où il est plus facile de trouver la solution plate que celle incurvée. Deuxièmement, nous proposons un mécanisme possible pour l'origine et la renaissance de l'Univers. / Loop quantum gravity (LQG) is an attempt to solve the problem of quantum gravity. Loop quantum cosmology (LQC) is an attempt to apply LQG to early cosmology. The purpose of LQC is to connect LQG with observations. It is very hard to observe any quantum gravity effects because enormous energy density is most likely required. This is exactly why the early Universe is chosen as a stage to search for quantum gravity phenomena.The central result of LQC is that the big bang singularity is replaced by a big bounce. However this is not something that is possible to observe today. For this reason, we have investigated how cosmic perturbations are affected by LQC. We have used the so called deformed algebra approach, and have calculated the resulting spectrums for both scalar and tensor perturbations.The spectrums that we have found are not compatible with observation. However this can not bee taken as very strong evidence against LQG since there are too many assumptions on the way. Rather this is a result for this specific interpretation of LQC.We have also studied the background dynamics (the homogenous part of the equations) of LQC. Since slow-roll inflation is essential in explaining many features of the universe, including the CMB, we want to know if slow-roll inflation is compatible with LQC. We have found that, indeed, it is. If a square potential inflation field is added to the theory, the bounce will lift the potential energy enough to provide around 145 e-folds of slow-roll inflation. However, when anisotropies are taken into account, the amount of inflation decreases, and can even disappear completely if there is too much shear at the time of the bounce.We have derived the modified Friedman equation for anisotropic LQC. This has allowed us to study anisotropic LQC not just numerically, but also analytically, which has given us a much more comprehensive understanding of the situation than what was known before.Finally, we have studied some geometric aspects of de Sitter space, which has resulted in two very different considerations. Firstly we found that we can, for a general theory of modified cosmology and under some quite conservative assumptions, derive the dynamics for a spatially curved universe, given the dynamics of a spatially flat one. This is relevant in theories such as LQC, where it is easier to find the flat solution than the curved one. Secondly, we propose a possible mechanism for the origin and rebirth of the Universe.

Submitted by Emanuel Varela Cardoso (emanuel.varela@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-10-18T19:17:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MARIA APARECIDA DOS SANTOS – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGFísica) 2014.pdf: 628300 bytes, checksum: be5188c733755263bec183578258ca27 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-18T19:17:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MARIA APARECIDA DOS SANTOS – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGFísica) 2014.pdf: 628300 bytes, checksum: be5188c733755263bec183578258ca27 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02 / Capes / Considerando as diferentes abordagens possíveis referentes ao Universo, este trabalho está voltado para o estudo da Cosmologia Padrão e Inflacionária utilizando campos escalares para descrever a fase de expansão acelerada do Universo. Assim, através da Teoria da Gravitação proposta pela Relatividade Geral é possível determinar as equações de Friedmann e utilizando a Teoria de Campos em Cosmologia podemos obter uma equação de movimento que descreve a evolução temporal de um campo escalar chamado ínflaton, responsável pela inflação. Nesse sentido, propomos como alternativa a utilização de alguns modelos de potenciais já existentes, dentre os quais: V ( ) =12m2 2 (quadr atico), V ( ) = C cos2 (tipo cosseno), V ( ) = C sin2 (tipo seno), V ( ) = (t) 4 e o potencial constante V = V0. Buscando dessa forma descrever a evolução temporal do fator de escala a(t) e o comportamento do parâmetro de desaceleração q(t) com o objetivo de analisar a fase inflacionária, identi cando regiões de aceleração e desaceleração do Universo nos cenários dos espaços plano e curvo. / Taking into consideration the set of di erent approaches to the Universe existent today this work focuses on standard cosmology and in ationary expansion of the said using scalar elds to describe the expansion acceleration rate. Therefore, through a gravitation theory proposed by General Relativity is possible to set Friedmann`s equations and using Field Theory applied to Cosmology to obtain an equation of motion which describes the temporal evolution of a scalar eld called in action, which is responsible for the in ationary process. In this sense, we propose as alternative some models whose potentials are already established, among them: V ( ) = 12m2 2 (quadratic), V ( ) = C cos2 (cosinelike) , V ( ) = C sin2 (sinelike), V ( ) = (t) 4 and the constant potential V = V0 . We seek with this to describe the temporal evolution of the scale factor a(t) and how the decelerating parameter behaves and then analyze the in ationary faze, indentifying periods when the Universe was accelerating or decelerating given curve or plane space scenarios.