The most general AdS$_5 imes Y$ solutions of type IIB string theory that are AdS/CFT dual to superconformal field theories in four dimensions can be fruitfully described in the language of generalized geometry, a powerful hybrid of complex and symplectic geometry. We show that the cone over the compact five-manifold $Y$ is generalized Calabi-Yau and carries a generalized holomorphic Killing vector field $xi$, dual to the R-symmetry. Remarkably, this cone always admits a symplectic structure, which descends to a contact structure on $Y$, with $xi$ as Reeb vector field. Moreover, the contact volumes of $Y$, which can be computed by localization, encode essential properties of the dual CFT, such as the central charge and the conformal dimensions of BPS operators corresponding to wrapped D3-branes. We then define a notion of ``generalized Sasakian geometry'', which can be characterized by a simple differential system of three symplectic forms on a four-dimensional transverse space. The correct Reeb vector field for an AdS$_5$ solution within a given family of generalized Sasakian manifolds can be determined---without the need of the explicit metric---by a variational procedure. The relevant functional to minimize is the type IIB supergravity action restricted to the space of generalized Sasakian manifolds, which turns out to be just the contact volume. We conjecture that this contact volume is equal to the inverse of the trial central charge whose maximization determines the R-symmetry of the dual superconformal field theory. The power of this volume minimization is illustrated by the calculation of the contact volumes for a new infinite family of solutions, in perfect agreement with the results of $a$-maximization in the dual mass-deformed generalized conifold theories.

This thesis studies the cosmology of ultra-light scalar fields with masses in the range 10⁻³³ eV ? m ? 10⁻¹⁸ eV and their effects on cosmology. The existence of such fields is motivated by the theoretical framework of the "String Axiverse". All types of string theory contain multiple axion fields associated with antisymmetric tensor fields compactified on closed cycles in the compact space. Since the masses of these fields scale exponentially with the volume of the cycle, it is possible for them to be naturally light. We study the effects of these fields as a component of the dark matter and show analytically and numerically that they cause a suppression of structure formation on cosmological scales set by the inverse mass. We show that it will be possible with future galaxy redshift and weak lensing surveys to detect an ultra- light field comprising of order a percent of the total dark matter. If such a field is allowed to couple to the geometry that provided its mass via a phenomenological scalar potential for the axion and modulus, then the expansion of the universe can be altered significantly. In particular, we find that it is possible to have multiple epochs of accelerated expansion over a large region of parameter space, and to have a flat universe with a big crunch in the distant future. Finally, we address the issue of isocurvature perturbations in axion cosmologies, and demonstrate that in the ultra-light case the power spectrum is effected. This may have implications for the conclusions made about fine tuning in the axiverse in relation to a potential detection of tensor modes in the CMB that are different to the case of a standard axion.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2016. / The AdS/CFT correspondence is a conjectured exact duality between type IIB string theory on the AdS5 S5 background and N = 4 Super Yang-Mills theory, a conformal eld theory (CFT), on the boundary of the AdS space. A speci c observable of the CFT, which can be read from the two point correlation function, is the anomalous dimension. In this dissertation we will compute spectra of anomalous dimensions of excited giant gravitons up to two loops in a speci c limit. We are interested in the anomalous dimensions because the AdS/CFT correspondence associates them with energies of states in quantum gravity. We study operators constructed using n Z elds and m Y elds with n << m: In this case m n is a small parameter. At the leading order in m n and at large N, the problem of determining the anomalous dimensions can be mapped into the dynamics of m non-interacting magnons. The subleading terms at two loops, computed for the rst time in this dissertation, induce interactions between the magnons. Even after including this new correction, we nd the BPS operators remain BPS. / MT2016

Abstract The collective field theory technique provides a method of tackling problems with two N × N matrices in the large N limit. The collective field background from one matrix is first found, then the second matrix is introduced into this background as an impurity. Within the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence, this technique can be used to describe gauge theory states in the BMN limit. This dissertation starts by developing the collective field theory technique, firstly in general variables, then for one matrix, and subsequently for two matrices. It goes on to introduce a Yang-Mills interaction term, where two variable identifications are considered. The first is the more traditional angular momentum eigenstate model. The second is a model that directly uses two of the Higgs scalars. This model has been mentioned in the literature, but has not been considered in great depth. The exact two impurity spectrum is found, and the multi-impurity spectrum is found to first order. The resulting energy values match a spectrum that has been found for giant magnons.

L’intérêt majeur des travaux exposés dans cette thèse est d’explorer la chevelure des trous noirs dans des cadres plus généraux que celui de la Relativité Générale en tenant compte de la présence d’une constante cosmologique, de dimensions supplémentaires, de champs de matière exotiques ou de termes de courbure de rang plus élevé. Ces extensions de la Relativité Générale peuvent s’inscrire dans le cadre de la théorie des cordes. C’est en étudiant des extensions naturelles de la Relativité Générale que nous pouvons aussi mieux comprendre la théorie d’Einstein. Dans un premier temps, nous exposerons la théorie de la Relativité Générale avec notamment les principes sur lesquelles elle s’appuie et nous donnerons les éléments mathématiques dont nous avons besoin pour la suite. Puis, une première extension sera présentée avec l’introduction de dimensions supplémentaires et de champs de p-formes qui constituent la généralisation naturelle de l’interaction électromagnétique. Nous construirons dans ce cadre de nouvelles solutions statiques de trous noirs où les p-formes permettent de modeler la géométrie de l’horizon. Nous exposerons ensuite l’extension la plus générale de la théorie d’Einstein en dimension quelconque qui génère des équations du second ordre en la métrique : la théorie de Lovelock. Nous déterminerons dans ce contexte une large classe de solutions en dimension 6 pour laquelle la théorie se réduit à celle d’Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet avec toujours la présence de p-formes. Enfin, nous étudierons une généralisation de la Relativité Générale en dimension 4 dont la modification est induite par un champ scalaire couplé conformément à la gravitation. Nous exhiberons notamment une nouvelle solution de trou noir avec un horizon plat dans cette théorie en présence de champs axioniques. Pour clore cette thèse, l’aspect thermodynamique de ces théories gravitationnelles sera étudié ; ce qui permettra de déterminer la masse et les charges de ces nouvelles solutions et d’étudier des phénomènes de transitions de phase en présence d’un champ scalaire conforme. / The main interest of the work exposed in this thesis is to explore hairy black holes in a more general framework than General Relativity by taking into account the presence of a cosmological constant, of higher dimensions, of exotic matter fields or of higher curvature terms. These extensions to General Relativity can be derived in the context of String Theory. It is also by studying natural extensions to General Relativity that we can more deeply understand the theory of Einstein. Firstly, we will display the theory of General Relativity with its building blocks in particular and we will give the mathematical tools that we need afterwards. Then, a first extension will be detailed with the introduction of higher dimensions and p-form fields which constitute the natural generalization of the electromagnetic interaction. We will build in this framework new static black hole solutions where p-form fields allow to shape the geometry of the horizon. Secondly, we will present the general extension of Einstein theory in any dimension which produces second order field equations: Lovelock theory. We will determine in this context a large class of solutions in dimension 6 for which the theory is reduced to Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory with the presence of p-form fields. Thirdly, we will study a generalization of General Relativity in dimension 4 whose modification is induced by a conformally coupled scalar field. We will namely exhibit a new black hole solution with a flat horizon in the presence of axionic fields. To conclude this thesis, thermodynamical aspects of these gravitational theories will be studied. In this way, we will be able to determine the mass and the charges of these new solutions and we will examine phase transition phenomena in the presence of a conformally scalar field.

Esta tese visa realizar um estudo acerca das freqüências quasinormais das p-branas negras utilizando um campo escalar de teste. No contexto da correspondência AdS/CFT estudamos alguns aspectos da formação de estados supercondutores na teoria de campos definida na borda do espaço-tempo de Gauss-Bonnet AdS d-dimensional. Apresentamos a derivação das soluções das p-branas negras, bem como a análise de sua estrutura causal. Revisamos o regime perturbativo da Relatividade Geral e a interpretação dos modos quasinormais de um buraco negro em termos dos elementos que compõem a correspondência AdS/CFT. Estudamos a evolução de um campo escalar sem massa na geometria das p-branas negras em detalhe, sendo que utilizamos o método semianalítico WKB e a integração característica (Problema de Goursat) para calcular as freqüências quasinormais correspondentes. Por fim, apresentamos uma expressão aproximada de um estado supercondutor na teoria de campos definida na borda do buraco negro de Gauss-Bonnet AdS através do dicionário AdS/CFT. / This thesis aims at studying the quasinormal frequencies of black p-branes using a scalar field in the probe limit. In the context of AdS/CFT correspondence we study some aspects regarding the formation of superconductor states in the field theory set on the AdS boundary of the Gauss-Bonnet AdS spacetime. We present the derivation of black p-brane solutions, as well as the analysis of its causal structure. We review the perturbative regime of General Relativity and the interpretation of the black hole quasinormal modes in terms of the correspondence AdS/CFT. We study the evolution of a massless scalar field in the geometry of black p-branes in detail, and we use the WKB method and the characteristic integration (Goursats problem) in order to calculate the corresponding quasinormal frequencies. Ultimately, we present an approximate expression for a superconductor state in the field theory defined in the AdS boundary of Gauss-Bonnet AdS spacetime.

Este é um trabalho de revisão. Os principais formalismos no desenvolvimento da teoria de cordas são introduzidos e discutidos: a corda bosônica e as supercordas no formalismo de Ramond-Neveu-Schwarz e no formalismo de Green-Schwarz. São introduzidas também as açôes efetivas no limite de baixas energias das D-branas (ação DBI) e das teorias de supergravidade (D=10,11). Por fim, são analisados alguns aspectos da correspondência AdS/CFT, enunciando a conjectura e introduzindo algumas das entradas do dicionário. Os apêndices contêm tópicos de grande relevância para o texto e podem ajudar a esclarecer vários raciocínios e passagens ao longo do mesmo. / This is a review work. The main formalisms on the development of string theory are introduced and discussed: the bosonic string and the superstrings formalisms of Ramond-Never-Schwarz and Green-Schwarz. The effective actions in the low energy limit of the D-branes (DBI action) and supergravity theories (D=10,11) are introduced as well. Finally, some aspects of the AdS/CFT correspondence are analised, enunciating the conjecture and introducing some entries of the dictionary. The appendices contains some topics that are highly relevant for the whole text and may help clarify several ideas and arguments through it.

In this work we review the basic principles of the theory of the relativistic bosonic string through the study of the action functionals of Nambu-Goto and Polyakov and the techniques required for their canonical, light-cone, and path-integral quantisation. For this purpose, we briefly review the main properties of the gauge symmetries and conformal field theory involved in the techniques studied. / Neste trabalho fazemos uma revisão dos princípios básicos da teoria da corda bosônica relativística através do estudo dos funcionais ação de Nambu-Goto e de Polyakov e das técnicas necessárias para sua quantização canônica, no cone de luz e usando integrais de trajetória. Para tanto apresentamos uma pequena revisão das principais propriedades das simetrias de calibre a da teoria de campos conforme envolvidas nas técnicas estudadas.

Information about the very early universe can be accessed from observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation and the later formation of large-scale structure (LSS) that are produced from cosmological perturbations of the early universe. The most developed theoretical explanation for the origin of these perturbations is the theory of inflation, in which the early universe undergoes a period of accelerated expansion, amplifying quantum fluctuations to macroscopic size, which act as the seeds for the CMB anisotropies and the cosmic web of the LSS. The work in this thesis aims to connect the theory of inflation to properties of these observables in a highly detailed way, suitable for future high-precision astronomical surveys. After some introductory review chapters, we begin with new research on a study of inflation from string theory, deriving an observably-large value of the tensor-to-scalar ratio, which had been previously difficult to achieve theoretically. The next study investigates the link between the observed CMB power asymmetry and non-Gaussianity, including a novel non-zero value for the trispectrum. Next we study soft limits of non-Gaussian inflationary correlation functions, focussing first on the squeezed limit of the bispectrum and then generalizing to soft limits of higher-point correlation functions, giving results valid for multi-fi eld models of inflation.

ABSTRACT WOULD NOT LOAD ON DSpace