This thesis is divided into two parts. The first part concerns the study of the ambitwistor string and the scattering equations, while the second concerns the interplay of the symmetries of the asymptotic null boundary of Minkowski space, called [scri], and scattering amplitudes. The first part begins with a review of the CHY formulas for scattering amplitudes, the scattering equations and the ambitwistor string including its pure spinor version. Next are the results of this thesis concerning these topics, they are: generalizing the ambitwistor model to higher genus surfaces; calculating the one-loop NS-NS scattering amplitudes and studying their modular and factorization properties; deriving the one-loop scattering equations and analyzing their factorization; showing that, in the case of the four graviton amplitude, the ambitwistor amplitude gives the expected kinematical prefactor; matching this amplitude to the field theory expectation in a particular kinematical regime; solving the one loop scattering equations in this kinematical regime; a conjecture for the IR behaviour of the one-loop ambitwistor integrand; computing the four graviton, two-loop amplitude using pure spinors; showing that this two-loop amplitude has the correct kinematical prefactor and factorizes as expected for a field theory amplitude; generalizing the ambitwistor string to curved backgrounds; obtaining the field equations for type II supergravity as anomaly cancellation on the worldsheet; generalizing the scattering equations for curved backgrounds. The second part begins with a review of the definition of the null asymptotic boundary of four dimensional Minkowski space, its symmetry algebra, and their relation to soft particles in the S-matrix. Next are the results of this thesis concerning these topics, they are: constructing two models consisting of maps from a worldsheet to [scri], one containing the spectrum of N=8 supergravity, and the other the spectrum of N=4 super Yang-Mills; showing how certain correlators in these theories calculate the tree-level S-matrix of N=8 sugra and N=4 sYM respectively; defining worldsheet charges which encode the action of the appropriate asymptotic symmetry algebra and showing that their Ward-identities recover the soft graviton, and soft gluon factors; defining worldsheet charges for proposed extensions of these symmetry algebras and showing that their Ward-identities give the subleading soft graviton and subleading soft gluon factors.

Submitted by THIAGO ROCHA ARAUJO (taraujo@ift.unesp.br) on 2016-02-18T13:06:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 thesis.pdf: 2041737 bytes, checksum: e20834514f664eb4d2cf9905a1e49015 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-02-19T19:04:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 araujo_tr_dr_ift.pdf: 2041737 bytes, checksum: e20834514f664eb4d2cf9905a1e49015 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-19T19:04:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 araujo_tr_dr_ift.pdf: 2041737 bytes, checksum: e20834514f664eb4d2cf9905a1e49015 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-16 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Nessa tese estudamos propriedades de soluções de supergravidade tipo II obtidas através da dualidade T abeliana e não abeliana. Também determinamos, através da conjectura gauge/gravidade, aspectos da teoria de campos dual a essas soluções obtidas por dualidade T. Consideramos três tipos distintos de soluções: duais a teorias de campos que confinam, duais a teoria de campos conformes e duais a teoria de campos não-relativistas. Concluimos essa tese com uma análise dos laços de Wilson em soluções com simetria não relativista. / In this thesis we study properties of type II supergravity solutions generated by abelian and nonabelian T-duality. Also we determine, through the gauge/gravity conjecture, some aspects of the field theory dual to the supergravity solutions obtained by T-dualization. We consider three distinct types of backgrounds solutions, namely, backgrounds that are dual to confining field theories, backgrounds dual to conformal field theories and those dual to nonrelativistic field theories. We conclude this thesis with an analysis of Wilson loops on backgrounds with nonrelativistic symmetries. / CNPq: 140588/2012-4

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.

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.

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.

We present comprehensive analysis of the light and strange disconnected-sea quarks contribution to the nucleon electric and magnetic form factors. The lattice QCD estimates of strange quark magnetic moment GsM (0) = −0.064(14)(09) μN and the mean squared charge radius ⟨r2s⟩E = −0.0043(16)(14) fm2 are more precise than any existing experimental measurements and other lattice calculations. The lattice QCD calculation includes ensembles across several lattice volumes and lattice spacings with one of the ensembles at the physical pion mass. We have performed a simultaneous chiral, infinite volume, and continuum extrapolation in a global fit to calculate results in the continuum limit. We find that the combined light-sea and strange quarks contribution to the nucleon magnetic moment is−0.022(11)(09) μN and to the nucleon mean square charge radius is −0.019(05)(05) fm2. The most important outcome of this lattice QCD calculation is that while the combined light-sea and strange quarks contribution to the nucleon magnetic moment is small at about 1%, a negative 2.5(9)% contribution to the proton charge radius and a relatively larger positive 16.3(6.1)% contribution to the neutron charge radius come from the sea quarks in the nucleon. For the first time, by performing global fits, we also give predictions of the light-sea and strange quarks contributions to the nucleon electric and magnetic form factors at the physical point and in the continuum and infinite volume limits in the momentum transfer range of 0 ≤ Q2 ≤ 0.5 GeV2.

This thesis contains two main themes. The first is Einstein's theory of general relativity in higher dimensions, while the second is M-theory. The first part of the thesis concerns the use of classification techniques based on the Weyl curvature in an attempt to systematically study higher dimensional general relativity and its solutions. After a review of the various classification schemes, the application of these schemes to the study of higher dimensional solutions is explained. The first application of the tensor approach that is discussed is the systematic classification of higher dimensional axisymmetric solutions. A complete classification of all algebraically special axisymmetric solutions to the vacuum Einstein equation in higher dimensions is presented. Next, the study of perturbations of higher dimensional solutions within this framework and the possibility of decoupling equations for black hole solutions of interest, as has been successfully done in four dimensions, is considered. In the case where such a decoupling of the perturbations is possible, a map for constructing solutions of the perturbation equation is presented and is applied to the Kerr/CFT correspondence. Also, the property of gravitational radiation emitted from an isolated source in higher dimensions is considered and the tensor classification scheme is used to derive the peeling property of the Weyl tensor in higher dimensions. This is shown to be different to that which occurs in four dimensions. Finally, after an in-depth exposition of the spinor classification scheme and its relation to the tensor approach, solutions belonging to the most special type in the spinor classification are classified. In addition, the classification of the black ring in this scheme is discussed. The second part of the thesis explores the use of generalised geometry as a tool for better understanding M-theory. After briefly reviewing the curious phenomenon of M-theory dualities, it is explained how generalised geometry can be used to show that these symmetries are not exclusive to compactifications of the theory, but can be made manifest without recourse to compactification. Finally, results regarding the local symmetries of M-theory in the generalised geometry framework for a particular symmetry group are presented.

Il existe des nombreuses solutions lisses dans le domaine de la théorie des cordes, caractérisées par une topologie non triviale (bulles) et sans sources localisées. Dans cette thèse nous analysons quelques-unes parmi les solutions les plus importantes avec les différents objectifs pour lesquels ils sont étudiés. Des solutions lisses en onze dimensions peuvent être interprétées comme microétats BPS de trou noir dans le cadre de la Fuzzball proposal. On peut promouvoir ces microétats à être quasi-BPS en plaçant de supertubes au minimum métastable à l’intérieur de ces solutions. Nous montrons que ces minima peuvent abaisser leur énergie lorsque les bulles se déplacent dans certaines directions dans l’espace des modules, ce qui implique que ces microétats quasi-BPS sont en fait instables. L’énergie dissipée par ces solutions correspond au rayonnement Hawking et on compare le taux d’émission et la fréquence à celles du trou noir correspondant. En modifiant la géométrie asymptotique de ces microétats on pourrait construire des microétats pour des trous noirs BPS sans charge électrique en cinq dimensions. Il faut donc trouver une nouvelle solution de supergravité en cinq dimensions dont la norme du vecteur de Killing passe de positive à nulle dans certaines régions. Nous construisons des exemples explicites où la norme du vecteur de Killing supersymétrique est une fonction réelle non-analytique telle que tous ses dérivés sont nulles à un point où le vecteur de Killing devient nul. Dans la solution de Lin-Lunin-Maldacena on trouve un mécanisme pour briser la supersymétrie similaire à celui utilisé pour les microétats quasi-BPS. Nous analysons l’énergie potentielle de branes M2 polarisés en branes M5. Lorsque les charges des M2 sont parallèles à ceux de la solution, nous trouvons des configurations stables. Lorsque les charges des M2 ne sont pas parallèles, nous trouvons des états métastables qui brisent la supersymétrie et nous analysons le processus de rayonnement d’énergie. Nous analysons aussi la solution de Klebanov-Strassler et construisons sa version T- duale dans la supergravité de type IIA. Pour cela une analyse approfondie est nécessaire pour choisir l’isomérie la plus appropriée. Notre construction est la première étape d’un programme pour tester la stabilité des antibranes dans la supergravité de type IIA. / There exist many smooth solutions in String Theory characterized by a nontrivial topology threaded by fluxes and no localized sources. In this thesis we analyze some of the most important bubbled solutions along with the different purposes they are studied for. Some smooth, eleven-dimensional solutions can be interpreted as BPS black hole microstates in the context of the Fuzzball proposal. One can promote these to be microstates for near-BPS black holes by placing probe supertubes at a metastable minimum inside these solutions. We show that these minima can lower their energy when the bubbles move in certain directions in the moduli space, which implies that these near-BPS microstates are in fact unstable. The decay of these solutions corresponds to Hawking radiation and we compare the emission rate and frequency to those of the corresponding black hole. By modifying the asymptotic behavior of these microstates one could be able to construct microstates for five-dimensional BPS black holes with no electric charge. To do so one needs to find a new supergravity solution in five-dimensions whose Killing vector switches from timelike to null in some open regions. We construct explicit examples where the norm of the supersymmetric Killing vector is a real not-everywhere analytic function such that all its derivatives vanish at a point where the Killing vector becomes null. In the Lin-Lunin-Maldacena solution we find a supersymmetry-breaking mechanism similar to that used for near-BPS microstates. We analyze the potential energy of M2 probes polarized into M5 brane shells. When the charges of the probe are parallel to those of the solution we find stable configurations, while when the charges are opposite we find metastable states that break supersymmetry and analyze the decay process to supersymmetric configurations. We analyze also the Klebanov-Strassler solution and construct its T-dual version in Type IIA. This is done by just reconstructing the solution expanded on a small region of the deformed conifold, after a thorough analysis to choose the most suitable isometry. Our construction is the first step in a program to test the stability of antibranes in Type IIA backgrounds.

This thesis is devoted to the study of orientifolds and dynamical supersymmetry breaking in configurations of D-branes on toric Calabi-Yau singularities, through the lens of dimer models. We first review the basic ingredients of string theory that led to the formulation of gauge/gravity dualities in terms of dimers. Then, we discuss the non-abelian anomaly cancellation conditions for the supersymmetric gauge theories arising on D-branes and provide necessary geometric criteria to determine whether an orientifold projection can be safely introduced. We also find a new realization of orientifold projection without fixed loci in dimer models and expand on its physical features. We argue that it exhausts the possibilities of orientifolding dimer models. In the subsequent part of the thesis, we investigate dynamical supersymmetry breaking vacua in the same class of models and their typical instability along N=2 Coulomb branches. This leads us to formulate a no-go theorem against their stability based on geometrical features of the singularity, and then to establish a precise way to circumvent it. We eventually find the first instance of stable dynamical supersymmetry breaking vacuum in string theory from D-branes on a toric Calabi-Yau singularity, the Octagon. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Les trous noirs sont produits par effondrement gravitationnel d'étoiles supermassives et contiennent en leur centre une singularité de l'espace-temps habillée d'un horizon auquel rien ne peut s'échapper. Ils se situent à la frontière théorique commune entre la Relativité Générale et la Mécanique Quantique, ce qui en fait le principal laboratoire théorique et expérimental pour tester les théories quantiques de la gravité comme la Théorie des Cordes. L'entropie d'un trou noir est énorme, de l'ordre de sa masse au carré. Comme tout objet entropique, une description microscopique en termes de dégénérescence d'états devrait exister. De plus, le trou noir s'évapore par rayonnement d'Hawking et l'information à l'intérieur semble perdue, ce qui compromet la principe d'unitarité, pierre angulaire de la Mécanique Quantique. Par conséquent, la Théorie des Cordes doit fournir les degrés de liberté nécessaires pour décrire la nature de micro-état de trous noirs, elle doit également trouver un mécanisme résolvant la singularité et le paradoxe de la perte d'information. Cette thèse porte sur la physique des trous noirs à travers le "fuzzball proposal" et le "microstate geometry program". La majeure partie de la discussion se déroulera dans la limite de basse énergie de la Théorie des Cordes, c'est-à-dire en Supergravité. Le ``proposal" stipule qu'il existe "eS" solutions non singulières sans horizon qui ressemblent à un trou noir à large distance mais qui diffèrent à proximité de l'horizon. Sur la base de cette affirmation, la solution de trou noir classique correspond à la description statistique d'un système de solutions qui ont la même géométrie que le trou noir à l'extérieur de l'horizon, mais qui se terminent par des géométries régulières, dites "fuzzy". La proposition soulève plusieurs questions : Comment la singularité est-elle résolue ? De telles géométries peuvent-elles être construites en Supergravité ? Comment l'information s'échappe-t-elle de l'ensemble des micro-états ? La thèse est décomposée en trois parties. La première partie présente les bases et donne un aperçu du "microstate geometry program". La deuxième partie regroupe cinq travaux qui se consacrent à construire de larges familles de micro-états de trous noirs supersymétriques ou non supersymétriques. La dernière partie passe en revue deux travaux. L'un d'eux étudie le processus de diffusion dans les micro-états. Cela permet d'élucider comment le principe d'unicité est restaurée et comment l'information s'échappe des micro-états. La seconde traite du rôle des micro-états dans le contexte de la correspondance AdS2/CFT1 et donne l'ébauche d'une preuve pour le "fuzzball proposal". / Black holes are produced by gravitational collapse of supermassive stars and consist of a spacetime singularity dressed by a horizon from which nothing can escape. They lie at the common theoretical border between General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, making them the main theoretical and experimental laboratory for testing quantum theories of gravity as String theory. The entropy of a black hole is huge, of the order of its mass squared. As any entropic object, a microscopic description in terms of large degeneracy of states should exist. Moreover, black hole evaporates through thermal Hawking's radiation and the information in the interior seems lost, that compromises the unitary principle, a cornerstone of Quantum Mechanics. Therefore, String Theory must provide the degrees of freedom necessary to describe the microstate nature of black holes, it must also find a mechanism resolving the singularity and the information loss paradox. This thesis addresses black-hole physics through the lens of the fuzzball proposal and the microstate geometry program. The major part of the discussion will be conducted in the low-energy limit of String Theory, that is in Supergravity. The proposal states that there exist "eS" horizonless non-singular solutions that resemble a black hole at large distance but differ in the vicinity of the horizon. Based on this statement, the classical black-hole solution corresponds to the average description of a system of solutions which match the black-hole geometry outside the horizon but cap off as ``fuzzy" smooth geometries in the infrared. The proposal leads to several questions: How is the singularity resolved? Can "eS" such geometries be built in Supergravity? How does the information escape from the ensemble of microstates?The thesis is decomposed in three parts. The first part introduces the basic materials and gives a review of the microstate geometry program. The second part gathers five works that all consist in constructing large classes of smooth horizonless microstate geometries of supersymmetric or non-supersymmetric black holes. The last part review two works. One is investigating the scattering process in microstate geometries. This helps to elucidate how unitarity is restored and how information escapes from black-hole backgrounds. The second one addresses the role of microstate geometries in the context of the AdS2/CFT1 correspondence and gives a beginning of proof for the fuzzball proposal.