A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 24 May 2014. / The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich e ect (hereafter SZE), i.e. the distortion of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) spectrum due to inverse Compton scattering of CMB photons o energetic electrons in cosmic structures, is a relevant inves- tigation tool for astrophysical and cosmological studies. Since the SZE is an interaction between photons and electrons, polarization arises as a natural out- come and then provides the SZE with an important complementary component as an astrophysical and cosmological probe. This thesis is an extensive study on the SZE in non-relativistic and relativistic regime including polarization. We rst perform a study on a set of galaxy clusters hosting radio halos where we constrain the non-thermal pressure present in these structures using multifre- quency data such as SZE, radio and X-ray. We found that the average ratio between non-thermal to thermal pressure is 0:5. We then derive, in the full relativistic regime, a general formulation of the properties of the SZE, and we further derive the Stokes parameters, Q and U, of the polarized SZE. This is done in a general case by solving the polarized Boltzmann collisional integral in the Thomson limit that allows us to extract the Stokes parameters for arbitrary electron distribution functions. We further discuss the spectral features of the SZE polarization as produced by other additional e ects occurring in the clus- ter atmospheres, like nite optical depth e ects and transverse plasma motions. We nally apply the results of our study to di erent cosmic structures (e.g. galaxy clusters and radio galaxies) and we discuss the relevance of SZE polar- ization in the study of extragalactic astrophysical plasmas and for cosmological applications.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, / In this thesis we investigate the evolution of viscous FRW cosmological models for two different constitutive equations for the bulk viscous pressure a, namely: The truncated theory,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and the full (non-truncated] Israel-Stewart theory ...................We first review the relativistic theory of non-equilibrium thermodynamics developed by Eckart (1940) and the essentially equivalent formulation of the theory given by Landau and Lifshitz (1958). We give a, brief description of the relativistic second-order theories found by Israel and Stewart (1976) and subsequently developed by Pavon, Jou, and co-workers (1982, 1993). All this is done in order to develop the tools for the study of the evolution of FRW cosmological models in the context of causal thermodynamics. We find new exact and perturbative solutions of Einstein's field equations for the truncated Israel-Stewart theory of irreversible thermodynamics. We show that viscous effects speed up the expansion of the universe. We also consider a viscous fluid in the presence of a " non-interacting scalar field and show that inflationary solutions exist. The full theory of bulk viscosity is applied to dissipative FRW spacetimes. New causal viscous inflationary solutions are presented. These solutions extend the results obtained by Maartens (1995a) to cases where the coefficient of bulk viscosity e and the relaxation time r are independent. Power-law solutions for the scale factor are shown to exist. / Andrew Chakane 2018

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Estudamos neste trabalho as propriedades globais dos superaglomerados de galáxias com uma amostra de galáxias observadas espectroscopicamente pelo Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Nossa amostra limitada em volume possui 121.002 galáxias com $M_r<-21$ dentro do intervalo de redshift $0,02<z<0,155$. Identificamos os superaglomerados utilizando os métodos de campo de densidades e \\textit{friends-of-friends}. Escolhemos um parãmetro de suavização $\\sigma=8h^{-1}Mpc$ e amostramos o campo de densidades numa grade de largura $l_{cel}=4h^{-1}Mpc$. Com o intuito de avaliar o efeito do limiar de densidade na identificação dos superaglomerados, escolhemos dois valores: um correspondente ao número máximo de estruturas em grande escala e um com o maior superaglomerado com dimensão de aproximadamente $120h^{-1}Mpc$. Para cada valor obtivemos a riqueza e a luminosidade total dos objetos. Para uma análise morfológica, os Funcionais de Minkowski foram calculados e os superaglomerados foram classificados como filamentos, fitas e panquecas. Analisando possíveis correlações entre as características dos superaglomerados, encontramos que filamentos tendem a ser mais ricos e consequentemente mais luminosos e com uma maior dispersão de velocidades. Usando a distribuição cumulativa de luminosidade de superaglomerados, encontramos que as distribuições de filamentos e fitas são distintas entre si. Num apêndice apresentamos um estudo das populações estelares de galáxias em superaglomerados. Calculamos a densidade local para cada galáxia e estudamos um análogo da relação morfologia-densidade através da relação entre densidade local e os parâmetros espectrais. Nenhuma diferença significativa foi notada entre filamentos, fitas e panquecas. Em outras palavras, comportamentos similares foram identificados para todos os parâmetros espectrais e morfologias dos superaglomerados, em todos os limiares. Resultado semelhante foi obtido para a distribuição cumulativa dos parâmetros espectrais. Finalmente, estudamos a influência dos aglomerados no ambiente interno dos superaglomerados. Valores médios dos parâmetros espectrais foram calculados dentro de esferas centradas nas BCGs (\\textit{Brightest Cluster Galaxies}) e verificamos todos os perfis dos parâmetros espectrais apresentam tendências a populações mais jovens à medida que a distância da BCG aumenta. O perfil mediano apresentou valores assintóticos para distâncias maiores que aproximadamente $8h^{-1}Mpc$. Esse valor é da mesma ordem que o parâmetro de suavização o que usamos, o que pode explicar porque não encontramos relações entre a morfologia dos superaglomerados e os valores médios dos parâmetros espectrais das populações estelares das galáxias que os constituem. / We have studied the global properties of galaxy superclusters with a sample of galaxies observed spectroscopically by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Our volume limited sample has 121,002 galaxies with $M_r<-21$ and the in redshift range $0.02<z<0.155$. We have identified superclusters using the density field and friends-of-friends methods. We have adopted a smoothing parameter $\\sigma=8h^{-1}Mpc$ and sampled the density field in a grid of size $l_{cel}=4h^{-1}Mpc$. In order to evaluate the effect of the threshold density value on supercluster identification, we have choosen two values: the threshold which corresponds to the highest number of superclusters and the threshold where the largest supercluster is about $120h^{-1}Mpc$ long. For each value, we have obtained the richness and the total luminosity of the objects. For the morphological analisys the Minkowski Functionals were calculated and the superclusters were classified as filaments, ribbons and pancakes. Analyzing possible correlations among superclusters features, we have found that filaments tend to be richer and consequently more luminous and have a higher velocity dispersion. Using the cumulative distribution of supercluster luminosities, we have found that the distributions of filaments-like and pancakes-like objects are probably distinct. In an appendix we present a study of stellar populations of galaxies. We have calculated the local density for each galaxy, obtaining an analogous of the morphology-density relation through the relation between local density and spectral parameters. No significative difference in this relation has been noticed among filaments, ribbons and pancakes. In other words, similar behaviors have been identified for all spectral parameters and superclusters morphologies, in all threshold densities. A similar result was obtained for the cumulative distributions of spectral parameters. Finally, we have studied the influence of clusters on the inner environment of superclusters. Average values of spectral parameters were calculated inside spheres centered at each BCG(\\textit{Brightest Cluster Galaxy}) and all spectral parameter profiles have shown trends towards younger populations as the distance from BCG increases. The median profile presented asymptotic values for distances greater than roughly $8h^{-1}Mpc$. Since this is of the same order of magnitude of the smoothing parameter, this might explain why we did not find any relation between the supercluster morphology and the mean value of spectral parameters of the galaxies.

Visando aprimorar as medidas de distâncias cosmológicas feitas com a observação de supernovas de tipo Ia (SNIas), nós realizamos dois estudos: primeiro, verificamos as relações entre as propriedades das SNIas e de seus ambientes; segundo, avaliamos os dados de supernovas que poderiam ser obtidos com um mapeamento (survey) fotométrico do céu em filtros de banda estreita. Na primeira parte deste trabalho, nós utilizamos dados do Sloan Digital Sky Survey para confirmar as relações publicadas na literatura entre as propriedades das SNIas e a taxa de formação estelar de suas galáxias hospedeiras: SNIas em galáxias passivas tendem a ser mais breves, mais luminosas após correções, e sua cor influencia menos a sua magnitude quando comparadas a SNIas em galáxias ativas. Nós então analisamos SNIas em aglomerados ricos de galáxias e concluímos que elas são ainda mais breves do que a SNIa média em galáxias passivas. Essa característica está relacionada com a idade mais alta das galáxias passivas em ambientes densos e com a preferência dessas galáxias em hospedar SNIas bastante breves. As demais características das SNIas foram consideradas compatíveis com SNIas de campo dentro da precisão alcançada. Esse tipo de estudo deve impactar a determinação de distâncias uma vez que, em diversos casos, SNIas em redshifts diferentes habitam ambientes diferentes. O segundo tema desta tese trata de estudar as características de um novo método fotométrico aplicado às supernovas: o imageamento em filtros de banda estreita. Utilizando simulações de fotometria e tomando como base o projeto Javalambre Physics of the accelerating universe Astrophysical Survey (J-PAS), mostramos que um mapeamento realista em filtros de banda estreita é capaz de produzir amostras massivas de SNIas em redshifts intermediários (0 < z < 0;5) com baixa contaminação (3% ou menos), com um redshift fotométrico altamente preciso (sz =0;005) e com boa precisão na parametrização de suas curvas de luz. Além disso, filtros de banda estreita são capazes de resolver quase todas as características espectrais das supernovas. Junto com a rica informação que esse mapeamento pode prover sobre as galáxias observadas, esse tipo de projeto deve trazer contribuições significativas para o melhor entendimento das supernovas e das relações com seus ambientes. / Aiming at improvements in cosmological distance measurements performed with type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) observations, we carried out two studies: first, we analyzed the relationships between the properties of SNe Ia and those of their environments; second, we assessed what kind of SNe data could be attained by a photometric survey using narrowband filters. In the first part of this work we used data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to confirm previously reported relations between SNe Ia properties and their hosts star formation rate: SNe Ia in passive galaxies tend to be briefer, more luminous after corrections and their colors do not impact their magnitudes as much when compared to SNe Ia in active galaxies. We then analyzed the properties of SNe Ia inside rich galaxy clusters and concluded that they are even briefer than the average SNe Ia in passive galaxies. This characteristic is related to the older age of passive galaxies in dense regions and their preference for hosting very brief SNe Ia. Other properties of these SNe Ia were considered compatible under the precision attained. This kind of study may influence distance determinations since, in many cases, SNe Ia at different redshifts populate different environments. On the second part of this work we studied the characteristics of a new photometric method applied to supernovae: the narrowband filter imaging of the sky. Using photometry simulations and taking the Javalambre Physics of the accelerating universe Astrophysical Survey (J-PAS) project as our fiducial survey, we showed that a realistic narrowband survey is capable of producing massive SNe Ia samples at intermediate redshifts (0 < z < 0;5) with low contamination rate (3% or less), a highly precise photometric redshift (sz = 0;005) and a good precision on their light curve parametrization. Moreover, narrowband filters are able to resolve almost every supernova spectral feature. Together with the rich galaxy information this kind of survey can provide, it should present significant contributions to the better understanding of supernovae and their relationships with their environments.

Thesis advisor: Gary M. Gurtler / This dissertation examines Plotinus’ pedagogy. I argue that his pedagogy aims at teaching students how to think and be attuned to their own unity, both of which have ethical ramifications. I identify six techniques he uses to achieve these aims: (1) using allusions, (2) leading readers to an impasse (aporia), (3) using and correcting images, (4) self-examination and ongoing criticism, (5) treating opposites dynamically, and (6) thought-experiments. I also explain why and how these techniques are not applied to passive recipients but require their active involvement. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Philosophy.

Studying weak gravitational lensing of type Ia supernovae is a valuable tool to have in cosmology. Gravitational lensing may amplify the brightness of the source, affecting the brightness distribution of observed supernovae in a non-Gaussian way. Testing this magnified distribution for normality may thus reveal the observation of weak lensing. Simulation of lensing and studying the feasibility of current telescopes (ZTF) detecting it gives a first look into when this mechanism may be fully utilized.

In this research, the validity of using an effective potential to approximate general relativistic effects in an otherwise Newtonian setting was investigated, by making simulations of core collapse supernovae on one hand in full general relativity, and on the other hand in said Newtonian setting. This was done for a mass range covering progenitors of 12 − 60 solar masses; a much wider mass range than has been used in earlier research, that also includes progenitors that form black holes. Two numerical codes were used; the general relativistic hydrodynamic code GR1D, and the Newtonian hydrodynamic code FLASH. For simplicity, spherical symmetry was assumed, and a M1 neutrino transport was employed rather than solving the full Boltzmann transport equation for neutrinos. Three different versions of the effective potential; GREP1, GREP2, and GREP3, were tested, and their results compared to a general relativistic case; GR, in an attempt to investigate possible improvements of earlier research. For all parameters investigated in this research, case GREP1 (and GREP2) yielded results that agreed very well with case GR at the time around bounce, though somewhat worse later on in the evolution. This observation is consistent with that made by Marek et al. (2006), but for a much larger set of progenitors, and therefore, the reliability of using this version of the effective potential to approximate general relativistic effects in an otherwise Newtonian setting, is not only confirmed, but extended as well. Another exceptional result not seen before was the black 1 hole formation times, which all three effective potentials could reproduce within ∼ 5% compared to case GR. In addition to this, case GREP3 yielded excellent results for the central density, but rather poor results for the remaining properties, and is thus not recommended to use to approximate general relativistic effects, although further investigation of this potential might give valuable clues for further improvements

A non-zero helicity of cosmological magnetic fields could, if detected, have important implications for models of the electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. It has been suggested that the helicity of such a field could be related to the handedness of photon arrival directions in the diffuse gamma-ray sky observed by the \emph{Fermi} Large Area Telescope (LAT). \cite{tashiro_search_2014} found a left-handedness when applying this method, implying the existence of an extragalactic magnetic field with negative helicity. In this work the same method is applied, using twice as much data from the LAT due to the longer exposure time, providing higher statistical certainty. Additionally, the potential effects of the non-uniform LAT exposure and contamination of galactic emission are studied using simulated data sets. The results obtained indicate no significant signal, as the simulations suggest that the uncertainty was highly underestimated in \cite{tashiro_search_2014}, and any observed handedness using the updated LAT data is found to be compatible with zero within this new error estimate.

We propose a new method for detecting exoplanets using gravita-tional lensing. The hypothesis is that the lensing caused by an exo-planet could distort the structures of a radio background, for instancea H II region. It cannot be done with todays telescope but with thesecond incarnation of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), currently inits design phase we deem it possible. In order to test this hypothesis weconstructed a simulation that creates a simple background structurewith variable scale and then produces simulated images such as theones achievable with the SKA. We produce positive result with a clearsignature of the planet with certain background scales and suggestfurther investigation into this method of detecting exoplanets.