O comportamento infra-vermelho dos propagadores de glúons e de ghosts é de fundamental importância para o entendimento do limite de baixas energias da cromodinâmica quântica (QCD), especialmente no que diz respeito ao problema do confinamento de quarks e de glúons. O objetivo desta tese é implementar um novo método para o estudo do propagador de glúons no calibre covariante linear para a QCD na rede. Em particular, analisamos em detalhe a nova implementação proposta e estudamos os algoritmos para fixação numérica deste calibre. Note que a fixação numérica da condição de calibre de Feynman apresenta vários problemas não encontrados nos casos de Landau e de Coulomb, o que impossibilitou por longo tempo o seu estudo adequado. De fato, a definição considerada inicialmente, por Giusti et. al., é de difícil implementação numérica e introduz condições espúrias na fixação de calibre. Como consequência, os únicos estudos efetuados anteriormente referem-se aos propagadores de glúons e de quarks em redes relativamente pequenas, não permitindo uma análise cuidadosa do limite infra-vemelho da QCD neste calibre. A obtenção de novas soluções para a implementação do calibre de Feynman na rede é portanto de grande importância para viabilizar estudos numéricos mais sistemáticos dos propagadores e dos vértices neste calibre e, em geral, no calibre covariante linear. / The infrared behavior of gluon and ghost propagators is of fundamental importance for the understanding of the low-energy limit of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), especially with respect to the problem of the confinement of quarks and gluons. The goal of this thesis is to implement a new method to study the gluon propagator in the linear covariant gauge in lattice QCD. In particular, we analyze in detail the newly proposed implementation and study the algorithms for numerically fixing this gauge. Note that the numerical fixing of the Feynman gauge condition poses several problems that are not present in the Landau and Coulomb cases, which prevented it from being properly studied for a long time. In fact, the definition considered initially, by Giusti et. al., is of difficult numerical implementation and introduces spurious conditions into the gauge fixing. As a consequence, the only studies carried out previously involved gluon and quark propagators on relatively small lattices, hindering a careful analysis of the infrared limit of QCD in this gauge. Obtaining new solutions for the implementation of the Feynman gauge on the lattice is therefore of great importance to enable more systematic numerical studies of propagators and vertices in this gauge and, in general, in the linear covariant gauge.

In this thesis it is performed the measurement of electrons from heavy-flavor hadron decays, with the use of the ALICE detector, at LHC. Two analysis are performed. The first one consists in the measurement of the invariant cross section of electrons from open heavy-flavor (charm or beauty) hadron decays in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV, the largest center of mass energy generated by LHC up to now, in the transverse momentum interval 0.5 < pT < 4 GeV/c. The experimental cross-section is compared to the pQCD-based prediction given by FONLL, and it sits on the upper edge of the theoretical uncertainty band over the full momentum range. The ratios between this experimental result and the equivalent measurements performed at lower center of mass energy have the potential to bring constrains to the FONLL calculation. The second analysis consists in the measurement of the nuclear modification factor, RAA , of electrons from beauty-hadron decays in the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions at sNN = 5.02 TeV, in the interval 2 < pT < 8 GeV/c. Electrons from beauty-hadron decays are extracted from the inclusive electron yield via fits to the impact parameter distribution using templates of electrons from different sources, obtained from Monte Carlo simulations. This measurement allows to probe the energy loss of beauty quarks when traversing the Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP), a color-deconfined medium produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. A suppression of about 40-50% is observed on the RAA for pT > 3 GeV/c and it is consistent, over the full momentum range and within experimental uncertainties, with the prediction of pQCD-based models that describe a mass-dependent energy loss of the heavy-quarks while traversing the QGP, interacting with its constituents via radiative and collisional processes. This analysis brings significant improvement of the experimental uncertainties with respect to the equivalent measurement performed with the run 1 data and consists in an important step in the study of the mass-dependence of the energy loss of heavy quarks inside the QGP at low pT . / Nessa tese é feita a medida de elétrons provenientes do decaimento de hadrons que contêm quarks pesados (charm ou beauty), com o uso dos detectores do experimento ALICE, no LHC. Duas análises são realizadas. A primeira consiste na medida da seção de choque invariante de elétrons provenientes do decaimento de hadrons que contêm quarks charm ou beauty em colisões pp a s = 13 TeV, a maior energia de centro de massa gerada pelo LHC até então, na região de momento transversal 0.5 < pT < 4 GeV/c. Esse resultado é comparado com a previsão dada pelo FONLL (calculo baseado em QCD perturbativa) e se situa no limite superior da incerteza teórica, sobre toda a faixa de momento. As razões entre este resultado experimental e medidas equivalentes realizadas em mais baixa energia podem trazer informações importantes para tornar o cálculo teórico mais preciso. A segunda análise consiste na medida do fator de modificação nuclear, RAA , de elétrons provenientes do decaimento de hadrons que contêm quarks beauty, em colisões centrais de Pb-Pb a sNN = 5.02 TeV, no intervalo 2 < pT < 8 GeV/c. Elétrons provenientes de hadrons que contêm quarks beauty são extrados do conjunto de elétrons inclusivos a partir do ajuste da distribuição do parâmetro de impacto com templates de elétrons de diferentes fontes, extrados de simulações de Monte Carlo. Essa medida permite estudar a perda de energia dos quarks beauty ao atravessarem o Plasma de Quarks e Glúons (QGP), produzido em colisões entre ons pesados em altas energias. É observada uma supressão de 40-50% no RAA medido para pT > 3 GeV/c e esta é consistente, sobre toda a faixa de p T , com a previsão de modelos baseados em pQCD, que descrevem a perda de energia dos quarks pesados via processos elásticos e inelásticos com os constituintes do QGP, de maneira dependente da massa. Este resultado possui incertezas experimentais significativamente menores com relação à medida realizada com dados do run 1 e consiste num importante passo no estudo da dependência em massa da perda de energia dos quarks pesados no QGP em baixo pT .

Les collisions d'ions lourds ultra-relativistes offrent la possibilité de créer des conditions de température et de densité suffisantes pour conduire la matière nucléaire à un état de partons déconfinés appelé le plasma de quarks et de gluons. <br />La production des baryons étranges est l'une des observables essentielles pour la compréhension des mécanismes opérant dans le milieu. <br />De plus, certaines prédictions théoriques envisagent la possibilité de production de dibaryons étranges, particules encore hypothétiques, dont la preuve de l'existence aurait des conséquences importantes en physique nucléaire et en astrophysique. <br />Les expériences STAR et, bientôt, ALICE, installées respectivement auprès des collisionneurs RHIC et LHC, rendent accessible la recherche des baryons et des dibaryons étranges.<br /><br />Une simulation consacrée au dibaryon métastable $\rm {H^0}$ dans son mode de désintégration $\Lambda p \pi^-$ a permis de calculer la sensibilité de STAR à une telle particule. La recherche de ce $\rm {H^0}$ ainsi que celle de la résonance $\Xi^-p$ ont été menées dans les données Au+Au de STAR aux énergies de $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4$ et $200~GeV$.<br /><br />Dans le cadre de la préparation aux premières données Pb+Pb de l'expé-rience ALICE, plusieurs simulations ont permis d'estimer les performances du détecteur quant à l'identification des baryons étranges $\Lambda$, $\Xi$ et $\Omega$. Afin de favoriser leur efficacité de reconstruction dans une large gamme d'impulsion transverse tout en gardant un rapport S/B raisonnable, l'influence des sélections géométriques et de la taille de la zone de reconstruction a été soulignée. Par ailleurs, la sensibilité d'ALICE à l'identification des dibaryons étranges métastables ${\rm H^0}$ et $(\Xi^0p)_b$, ainsi que celle de la résonance $\Lambda\Lambda$, a été calculée.

Le Modèle Standard (MS) de la physique des particules synthétise les connaissances actuelles sur la physique subatomique et les interactions fondamentales connues (sauf la gravitation). Jusqu'à présent, aucun résultat expérimental ne contredit fortement les prédictions du MS. Cependant, il existe encore quelques questions de nature expérimentale ou théorique qui restent sans réponse dans le MS. De nombreux modèles théoriques se proposant de décrire la physique au delà du MS ont été proposés dans les dernières décennies pour tenter de remédier à une ou plusieurs des lacunes du MS. Certaines de ces théories comme le modèle technicouleur, les modèles de couleurs chiraux et les modèles de Randall-Sundrum avec des dimensions supplémentaires prédisent de nouvelles particules qui se couplent fortement au quark top, en raison de sa masse élevée. Ce couplage implique une désintégration préférentielle en une paire de quarks top, t tbar. Pour pouvoir tester ces nouvelles théories, des accélérateurs capables d'atteindre des énergies de l'ordre du TeV sont nécessaires, de même que des détecteurs adaptés pour analyser les événements recueillis. Ainsi, plusieurs recherches de résonances top-antitop ont été réalisées auprès des collisionneurs hadroniques très puissants comme Tevatron et le grand collisionneur de hadrons (LHC: acronyme de Large Hadron Collider). Les modèles de référence considérés dans ces recherches sont le modèle topcolor assisted technicolor qui conduit à la production d'un boson neutre Z' et le modèle de Randall-Sundrum avec une dimension supplémentaire qui conduit à la production d'un gluon Kaluza-Klein qui se désintégre aussi en une paire t tbar. Le modèle topcolor assisted technicolor explique la masse élevée du quark top et la brisure de symétrie électrofaible par condensation du quark top associé à la brisure de symétrie d'une nouvelle force forte. Le modèle de Randall-Sundrum explique le problème de hiérarchie en prenant en compte une dimension supplémentaire enroulée sur elle-même et dans laquelle la gravité va se propager. Les expériences CDF et DØ ont exclu à 95% de C.L. une masse de Z' inférieure à 900 GeV. Au LHC, la meilleures limites sur les masses du boson Z'et du gluon de Kaluza Klein ont été obtenues par l'expérience CMS en utilisant les données collectées en 2011, 500 < mZ' < 1300 GeV et 1000 < mgKK < 1400 GeV, respectivement.

L'interaction forte, qui permet de lier entre eux les quarks afin de former les nucléons, est assez bien décrite par la chromodynamique quantique (QCD) à très haute énergie lorsque les quarks sont quasiment libres. Mais cette interaction, qui permet aussi de lier les nucléons entre eux pour former les noyaux, est incalculable à basse ou moyenne énergie lorsque les quarks sont confinés. La physique des énergies intermédiaires essaye de comprendre comment les caractéristiques des nucléons ou mésons, ainsi que leur interaction effective, peuvent s'expliquer à partir des quarks et interactions de QCD. C'est dans ce cadre que je travaille depuis mon entrée au CNRS il y a maintenant 15 ans. Ma première activité a été la construction et l'utilisation d'un polarimètre à deuton qui a été utilisé au Laboratoire National SATURNE pour diverses expériences avec des hadrons de basses énergies, et plus récemment au Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory aux États-Unis pour l'expérience $t_{20}$. Puis je me suis engagé ces 10 dernières années dans la mesure du quark étrange dans les propriétés électromagnétiques du nucléon. Le Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory (TJNAF aussi appelé JLab pour Jefferson Laboratory) héberge l'accélérateur d'électrons de dernière génération CEBAF (Continuous Electron Beam Facility) qui est capable de produire des faisceaux de haute énergie (jusqu'à 6 GeV), très intenses et avec une très grande polarisation. C'est grâce à des accélérateurs comme celui-ci qu'a été possible le développement des expériences de mesure de violation de parité en diffusion d'électron. En 1998, la collaboration $G^{0}$ a commencé la construction d'un détecteur dédié à ce genre de mesures, avec comme objectif de séparer les contributions du quark étrange à la structure électrique et magnétique des nucléons. Deux laboratoires en France étaient engagés dans cette collaboration et avaient en charge la construction de la moitié du détecteur et de l'électronique associée pour la première phase de cette expérience qui s'est déroulée entre 2002 et 2005. Parallèlement, le LPSC Grenoble a développé de nouveaux détecteurs ainsi que leur électronique pour la deuxième phase de ce programme qui s'est déroulée entre 2001 et 2009. Dans le premier chapitre, j'expose le formalisme qui permet d'accéder à la contribution des quarks étranges puis, après une présentation des techniques expérimentales de violation de parité pour mesurer cette contribution, je décris les différentes expériences en diffusion d'électron. Dans le chapitre expérimental, je me concentre sur l'expérience $G^{0}$ qui a été mon activité de recherche dominante des 11 dernières années. Le chapitre 4 est consacré au bilan de 15 ans de programme expérimental dans ce domaine et présente ce que l'on sait aujourd'hui à partir de toutes ces mesures.

The main goal of ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions is the study of the properties of the matter at very high temperatures and energy densities. Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) predicts in these conditions the existence of a new phase of the matter whose components are deconfined in a Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). Heavy quarks (charm e bottom) are produced in the first stages of the collisions, before to interact with the medium. Therefore, the measurement of the quarkonia (cc and bb mesons) is of particular interest for the study of the QGP: their dissociation mainly due to the colour screening is sensible to the initial temperature of the medium. Previous measurements at the SPS and RHIC allowed to understand some characteristics of the system produced, but they also opened many questions. With an energy 14 times higher than RHIC, the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) at CERN opened a new era for the study of the QGP properties. ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is the LHC experiment fully dedicated to the study of the Quark-Gluon Plasma produced in Pb-Pb collisions at an energy of 2.76 TeV per nucleon. The experiment also participates to the proton-proton data taking in order to obtain the fundamental reference for the study of ion-ion and proton-ion collisions and for testing the predictions at very small Bjorken-x values of the perturbative QCD. Quarkonia, D and B mesons and light vector mesons are measured at forward rapidity by a Muon Spectrometer exploiting their (di)muonic decay. This detector is composed of a front absorber, a dipole magnet, five stations of tracking (Muon Tracking) and two stations of trigger (Muon Trigger). The work presented in this thesis has been carried out from 2011 to 2013 during the first period of data taking of ALICE. After a detailed introduction of the heavy-ion physics and a description of the experimental setup, the performance of the Muon Trigger in Pb-Pb collisions are shown. A particular attention is devoted to the stability of the detector during the time and to the trigger effectiveness. Moreover, the cluster size, corresponding to the number of adjacent strips hit by a particle, is studied as a function of different variables. The experimental results will be compared to simulations in order to obtain a good parametrization of this phenomenon. Finally, the Ç production in Pb-Pb collisions is carefully analysed and compared to that in pp collisions at the same energy. The results are then compared to the J/ψ measurements obtained by ALICE, to the CMS results and to some theoretical predictions.

La théorie de l’interaction forte, ou Chromodynamique Quantique (QCD), prédit l’existence d’une nouvelle phase de la matière nucléaire à très haute température et/ou très haute densité. Cet état est composé de quarks et de gluons déconfinés connu sous le nom de plasma de quarks-gluons (PQG).La mesure de sa composition et de ses propriétés est un enjeu important pour la physique nucléaire du XXIème siècle afin de parvenir à une meilleure compréhension des symétries et des mécanismes fondamentaux à l’origine du confinement des quarks au sein des hadrons et de l’interaction forte dans son ensemble.L’accélérateur LHC (Large Hadron Collider) au CERN (Organisation Européenne pour la Recherche Nucléaire) permet d’atteindre les conditions thermodynamiques nécessaires à la formationdu plasma de quarks-gluons à l’aide de collisions d’ions lourds (Pb) ultra relativistes. L’expérience ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) permet d’accéder à un grand nombre d’observables pour caractériser le PQG à partir de la reconstruction et de l’identification des particules produites lors descollisions. Parmi ces observables, la perte d’énergie des partons (quarks, gluons) de haute impulsiontransverse permet une étude des caractéristiques du milieu telle que sa densité et sa température.La perte d’énergie des partons est mise en évidence par la modification de la distribution en énergiedes hadrons produits par fragmentation.Cette thèse s’articule autour de l’analyse des corrélations photon-hadron dans le but d’étudierla modification de la fragmentation partonique par le plasma de quarks-gluons. La première partiede cette thèse est consacrée à la caractérisation du calorimètre électromagnétique EMCal, détecteur central pour la mesure en énergie et l’identification des photons. La seconde partie est dédiéeà la mesure des corrélations photon-hadron, dont l’analyse a portée sur les collisions proton-protond’énergie ps = 7 TeV, avant d’être appliquée aux collisions Plomb-Plomb d’énergie psNN = 2.76TeV. Un effort particulier a été fourni pour optimiser l’identification des photons prompts, un des points clés de cette analyse. / The strong interaction theory, Quantum Chromodynamic (QCD), predicts a new phase of nuclearmatter at very high temperature and/or very high density. This state is composed of deconfinedquarks and gluons known as the quark-gluon plasma (QGP). The measurement of its compositionand properties is a challenge for the nuclear physics of the 21st century and should lead to a betterunderstanding of the fundamental symetries and mechanisms related to the quarks confinement insidehadrons and the strong interaction generally.The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) accelerator at CERN (European Organization for NuclearResearch) allows to reach the thermodynamic conditions required to create the quark-gluon plasmausing ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions (Pb). The ALICE experiment (A Large Ion ColliderExperiment) allows to access several probes to characterize the QGP through particles reconstructionand. Among these probes, high energy parton energy loss is used to access medium characteristicssuch as density or temperature. Parton energy loss is estimated from the modification of the energydistribution of hadrons produced by fragmentation.This thesis is dedicated to the photon-hadron correlations analysis in order to study the modificationof the parton fragmentation due to the quark-gluon plasma. First part of this thesis is devotedto the characterization of the electromagnetic calorimeter (EMCal), the central detector for energymeasurement and photon identification. The second part is dedicated to the photon-hadron correlationmeasurement, for the 7 TeV proton-proton collisions and 2.76 TeV Lead-Lead collisions. Animportant work has been done to improve the prompt photon identification, one of the key point ofthis analysis.

Submitted by Wagner Maciel Castilho (castilho.w@gmail.com) on 2017-12-05T10:53:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseWagner.pdf: 4189219 bytes, checksum: dbc77f46b31b8872c5aafe68d8a5b7d0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Pamella Benevides Gonçalves null (pamella@feg.unesp.br) on 2017-12-05T12:38:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 catilho_wm_dr_guara.pdf: 4189219 bytes, checksum: dbc77f46b31b8872c5aafe68d8a5b7d0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-05T12:38:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 catilho_wm_dr_guara.pdf: 4189219 bytes, checksum: dbc77f46b31b8872c5aafe68d8a5b7d0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-11-10 / Os fenômenos físicos envolvidos em colisões relativísticas de íons pesados foram estudados utilizando o código hidrodinâmico NeXSPheRIO, com condições iniciais flutuantes evento a evento, caracterizado por tubos de fluxo longitudinais de altas energias. Foram realizadas análises para o espectro de hádrons em função dos momentos transversais pelos cálculos das distribuições de partículas em sete janelas de centralidade de colisão, de acordo com dados publicados pela Colaboração STAR. A coletividade da matéria nuclear formada durante as colisões foi investigada em termos de correlações azimutais entre hádrons. Verificou-se que as estruturas da correlação dependem do momento transversal e da centralidade. Tais estruturas são atribuídas à interação entre um fundo dependente da centralidade e as flutuações de evento a evento na multiplicidade. Como resultado, as correlações observadas são apresentadas por um duplo pico na região do away-side que mudam continuamente para um pico único sob certas circunstâncias. Em termos do modelo do tubo periférico, o fundo é dominado pelo fluxo elíptico que aumenta com a descentralização. Pelos cálculos numéricos, a anisotropia do sistema é estudada quanto aos coeficientes de fluxo harmônico até a quarta ordem, de acordo com os dados da colaboração PHENIX. A anisotropia do fundo contribui para as correlações entre hádrons e pôde ser avaliada pelo método ZYAM. Após sua subtração na produção do sinal de correlação próprio, a estrutura de correlação resultante é uma função da centralidade, plano de evento e do momento transverso de acordo com os dados das colaborações PHENIX e STAR. Mostrou-se que a estrutura do duplo pico no away-side muda continuamente para um pico único com a redução na centralidade. Além disso, em relação à dependência do plano de eventos, a estrutura de duplo pico no away-side evolui para um pico único à medida que o ângulo azimutal das partículas gatilho se move do plano para o da direção fora do plano de eventos. Também foi mostrado que a estrutura resultante do away-side pode ser sensível ao esquema detalhado pelo método ZYAM, particularmente, a subtração do terceiro coeficiente harmônico. Por último, mas não menos importante, a magnitude da correlação diminuiu com o aumento do momento transversal das partículas associadas. Nossas análises apresentaram um acordo razoável com os dados experimentais publicados pela colaboração PHENIX e STAR do RHIC / The physical phenomena involved in relativistic heavy-ion collisions were studied using a hydrodynamic code, NeXSPheRIO, with event-by-event fluctuating initial conditions featured by high-energy longitudinal flux tubes. Analyses were carried out for hadron spectrum as a function of the transverse momentum by the calculations of particle distributions in seven collision centrality windows, according to the data published by the STAR Collaboration. Also, the collectivity of the nuclear matter formed during the collisions was investigated in terms of dihadron azimuthal correlations. The correlation structures were found to be dependent on the transverse momentum and centrality. They are attributed to the interplay between the centrality dependent background and the eventby-event multiplicity fluctuations. As a result, the observed correlations are featured by a double-peak in the away-side region that continuously change to a single peak under certain circumstances. In terms of the peripheral tube model, the background is dominated by the elliptic flow which increases with decreasing centrality. By numerical calculations, the anisotropy of the system is studied regarding the harmonic flow coefficients up to fourth order, in accordance with the existing RHIC data. The background anisotropy contributes to the dihadron correlations, and can be evaluated by the ZYAM method. After it is subtracted from the proper correlation yields, the resultant correlation structure is a function of centrality, event plane and transverse moment, in accordance with the data from the PHENIX and STAR Collaborations. It was shown that the double-peak structure in the away-side continually changes to a single peak as centrality decreases. In addition, concerning the event plane dependence, the double-peak structure in the away-side evolves into a single peak as the azimuthal angle of the trigger particles moves from the in-plane to the out-of-plane direction. It was also shown that the resultant away-side structure can be sensitive to the detailed schemes of the ZYAM method, particularly, to the subtraction of the third harmonic coefficient. Last but not least, the magnitude of the correlation was found to decrease with increasing transverse moment of the associated particles. Our analyses manifestly presented a reasonable agreement with the experimental data published by the PHENIX and STAR Collaborations

A correspondência AdS/CFT é uma notável ferramenta no estudo de teorias de gauge fortemente acopladas que podem ser mapeadas em uma descrição gravitacional dual fracamente acoplada. A correspondência é melhor entendida no limite em que ambos $N$ e $\\lambda$, o rank do grupo de gauge e o acoplamento de \'t Hooft da teoria de gauge, respectivamente, são infinitos. Levar em consideração interações com termos de curvatura de ordem superior nos permite considerar correções de $\\lambda$ finito. Por exemplo, a primeira correção de acoplamento finito para supergravidade tipo IIB surge como um termo de curvatura com forma esquemática $\\alpha\'^3 R^4$. Neste trabalho investigamos correções de curvatura no contexto da gravidade de Lovelock, que é um cenário simples para investigar tais correções pois as suas equações de movimento ainda são de segunda ordem em derivadas. Esse cenário também é particularmente interessante do ponto de vista da correspondência AdS/CFT devido a sua grande classe de soluções de buracos negros assintoticamente AdS. Consideramos um sistema de gravidade AdS-axion-dilaton em cinco dimensões com um termo de Gauss-Bonnet e encontramos uma solução das equações de movimento, o que corresponde a uma black brane exibindo uma anisotropia espacial, onde a fonte da anisotropia é um campo escalar linear em uma das coordenadas espaciais. Estudamos suas propriedades termodinâmicas e realizamos a renormalização holográfica usando o método de Hamilton-Jacobi. Finalmente, usamos a solução obtida como dual gravitacional de um plasma anisotrópico fortemente acoplado com duas cargas centrais independentes, $a eq c$. Calculamos vários observáveis relevantes para o estudo do plasma, a saber, a viscosidade de cisalhamento sobre densidade de entropia, a força de arrasto, o parâmetro de jet quenching, o potencial entre um par quark-antiquark e a taxa de produção de fótons. / The AdS/CFT correspondence is a remarkable tool in the study of strongly coupled gauge theories which can be mapped to a dual, weakly coupled gravitational description. The correspondence is best understood in the limit in which both $N$ and $\\lambda$, the rank of the gauge group and the \'t Hooft coupling of the gauge theory, respectively, are infinite. Accounting for higher curvature interactions allows one to begin to consider finite $\\lambda$. For example, the leading finite coupling corrections to type IIB supergravity arise as stringy corrections with schematic form $\\alpha\'^3 R^4$. In this work we investigate higher curvature corrections in a simpler scenario, the Lovelock gravity. Lovelock gravity is a nice framework to investigate such corrections since its equations of motion are still second order in derivatives and is particularly interesting from the point of view of the AdS/CFT correspondence because a large class of asymptotically AdS black holes solutions are known. We consider five-dimensional AdS-axion-dilaton gravity with a Gauss-Bonnet term and find a solution of the equations of motion which corresponds to a black brane exhibiting a spatial anisotropy, with the source of the anisotropy being an axion field linear in one of the spatial coordinates. We study its thermodynamics and we carry out the holographic renormalization using the Hamilton-Jacobi approach. Finally, we use the solution as a gravity dual to a strongly coupled anisotropic plasma with two independent central charges, $a eq c$. We compute several observables relevant to the study of the plasma, namely, the shear viscosity over entropy density ratio, the drag force, the jet quenching parameter, the quarkonium potential and the thermal photon production.

O objetivo desse trabalho é estudar aplicações da correspondência AdS/CFT na descrição de plasmas fortemente acoplados similares ao plasma de quarks e glúons (PQG) produzido em colisões de íons pesados no RHIC e no LHC. O projeto está articulado em duas partes. Inicialmente estudamos como alguns observáveis, como a taxa de produção de fótons e diléptons, são afetados por anisotropias espaciais presentes no plasma. Isso é importante porque o PQG produzido em experimentos do mundo real tipicamente começa em configurações de alta anisotropia, que depois evoluem para configurações isotrópicas. Para modelar a anisotropia a acoplamento forte fizemos uso de uma solução de buraco negro de supergravidade do tipo IIB encontrada recentemente em arXiv:1105.3472/hep-th. Como segunda direção de pesquisa e novamente focando em aplicações da correspondência AdS/CFT na descrição do PQG, investigamos teorias de gravidade de Lovelock, que são generalizações naturais da teoria de relatividade geral de Einstein. Essas teorias contém termos com derivadas de ordem superior ao mesmo tempo que mantém equações do movimento de segunda ordem, e por isso constituem uma arena ideal para começar a entender como termos de derivada de ordem superior afetam vários observáveis físicos do plasma. / The aim of this work is to study applications of the AdS/CFT correspondence to strongly coupled plasmas similar to the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) produced in heavy ion collisions at RHIC and LHC. The project is articulated in two parts. Initially, we will study how some observables, such as photon and dilepton production rates, are affected by spatial anisotropies present in the plasma. This is important, since the QGP produced in real world experiments generically starts in highly anisotropic configurations, which later evolve towards isotropy. To model anisotropy at strong coupling we will make use of an anisotropic black hole solution of type IIB supergravity which has been recently obtained in arXiv:1105.3472/ hep-th. As a second direction of research and again focusing on applications of the AdS/CFT correspondence to the QGP, we will investigate Lovelock theories of gravity, which are natural generalizations of Einsteins general relativity. These theories contain higher derivative terms, while maintaining the equations of motion of second order, and constitute an ideal arena where to start understanding how higher derivative corrections affect various physical observables of the plasma.