Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'General relativity tests'

Abstract This paper treats Einstein's theory of General Relativity (GR), in particular three of the earliest experiments testing its validity. It covers the de　ection of, and the redshift of light in a gravity eld, two new phenomena predicted by GR. The perihelion precession of the planet Mercury and how GR matches observations of it more correctly than classic physics is also covered. In addition to the three older tests above, the more modern application in the GPS system is discussed, and how it can be regarded as a test of GR. Some theoretical questions are also discussed, including comparing classic physics to GR and the classical limit of GR.
Denna rapport handlar om Einsteins allmäna relativitetstori (GR), och mer specikt om tre tidiga experiment som kan testa dess giltlighet. Här behandlas avböjning av, och rödförskjutning av ljus i gravitationsfält, två nya fenomen som förutsägs av GR. Planeten merkurius periheliumprecession och hur GR bättre matchar observationer av den täcks också upp. Förutom dessa tre experiment, diskuteras också tillämpningen av GR i GPS-systemet, och hur det kan betraktas som ett test av GR. Några teoretiska frågor diskuteras också; bland annat jämförs klassisk fysik med GR och den klassiska gränsen till GR tas upp.

Understanding the apparent accelerating expansion rate of the universe is a challenge for modern cosmology. One category of explanations is that we are using the wrong gravitational physics to study the observations. Our paradigmatic theory of gravity – Einstein’s theory of General Relativity – may be subsumed by a larger theory. This thesis develops a selection of tools for testing General Relativity and the numerous alternative theories of gravity that have been put forward. I advocate that an elegant and efficient way to test this space of theories is through the use of parameterized frameworks. Inspired by the Parameterized Post-Newtonian framework I develop a new formalism, the Parameterized Post-Friedmann formalism, that aims to unify the linear cosmological perturbation theory of many alternatives to General Relativity. Having introduced the Parameterized Post-Friedmann formalism and demonstrated its application via a suite of examples, I examine several issues surrounding parameterized tests of gravity. I first consider how the structure of a parameterization can influence the constraints obtainable from a given set of data. I then consider how to describe the growth of the large-scale structure of the universe in a parameterized manner. This leads to a convenient tool for calculating corrections to the growth rate of structure in modified theories, which can be used both with the Parameterized Post-Friedmann formalism or independently of it. I present forecasts for how well generalized deviations from General Relativity will be constrained by the next generation of galaxy surveys. Throughout, this thesis aims to take a synoptic approach to theories of modified gravity, rather than focussing on specific models. A question yet to be answered is whether this approach is realistic in practical terms. The final part of this thesis takes the first steps towards an answer.

The General theory of Relativity (GR) brought gravity into accord with the principles of locality and relativity. Since its discovery it has been preeminent, recognized as the most accurate description of gravity on the many scales where it has been tested. During this period, seemingly radical predictions like the existence of black holes and the expansion of the Universe have been verified and testify to the great leap of insight that GR represented in our understanding of space and time. However not all precision observations of astrophysical systems have yielded easily to interpretation within GR, and with the discovery of cosmic acceleration, there is genuine concern that General Relativity may be incomplete when describing the Universe on the largest sizes imaginable. In this uncertainty, many theoretical models have been proposed. In this thesis we shall first outline the motivation behind a certain subset of these models and the known issues that arise in interpreting these models as alternative theories of gravity. Then focus on one variety of theory the f(R) modifications to gravity. Demonstrating that many of the known instabilities have a common origin and that they are avoided when treating these theories via perturbative constraints. In the second part of this work we examine the astrophysical impact of modifications to gravity, first in the case of high mass neutron stars, then subsequently on corrections to the line profile of neutral hydrogen from violations of the equivalence principle. Finally we explore the phenomenology of modifications to gravity that produce late-Universe acceleration. In particular, what solutions are allowed and what range of accelerations are predicted as a result. Furthermore we explore how a correction to gravity at large scales would impact the growth and evolution of cosmological perturbations.

The expansion of the universe is currently accelerating, as first inferred by Efstathiou et al. (1990), Ostriker & Steinhardt (1995) and directly determined by Riess et al. (1998) and Perlmutter et al. (1999). Current constraints are consistent with a time independent equation-of-state of w = -1, which is to be expected when a constant vacuum energy density dominates. But the Quantum Field Theory prediction for the magnitude of this vacuum energy is very much larger than that inferred (Weinberg, 1989; Koksma & Prokopec, 2011). It is entirely possible that the cause of the expansion has an alternative explanation, with both the inclusion of a quantum scalar field and modified gravity theories able to reproduce an expansion history close to, but potentially deviating from, that of a cosmological constant and cold dark matter. In this work I investigate the consistency of the VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS) v7 census of the galaxy distribution at z = 0:8 with the expansion history and linear growth rate predicted by General Relativity (GR) when a Planck Collaboration et al. (2016) fiducial cosmology is assumed. To do so, I measure the optimally weighted redshift-space power spectrum (Feldman et al., 1994), which is anisotropic due to the coherent infall of galaxies towards overdensities and outflow from voids (Kaiser, 1987). The magnitude of this anisotropy can distinguish between modified theories of gravity as the convergence (divergence) rate of the velocity field depends on the effective strength of gravity on cosmological scales (Guzzo et al., 2008). This motivates measuring the linear growth rate rather than the background expansion, which is indistinguishable for a number of modified gravity theories. In Chapter 6 I place constraints of fσ8(0:76) = 0:44 ± 0:04; fσ8(1:05) = 0:28 ± 0:08; with the completed VIPERS v7 survey; the combination remains consistent with General Relativity at 95% confidence. The dependence of the errors on the assumed priors will be investigated in future work. Further anisotropy is introduced by the Alcock-Paczynski effect - a distortion of the observed power spectrum due to the assumption of a fiducial cosmology differing from the true one. These two sources of anisotropy may be separated based on their distinct scale and angular dependence with sufficiently precise measurements. Doing so degrades the constraints: fσ8(0:76) = 0:31 ± 0:10; fσ8(1:05) = -0:04 ± 0:26; but allows for the background expansion (FAP ≡ (1 + z)DAH=c) to be simultaneously constrained. Galaxy redshift surveys may then directly compare both the background expansion and linear growth rate to the GR predictions I find the VIPERS v7 joint-posterior on (fσ8; FAP ) shows no compelling deviation from the GR expectation although the sizeable errors reduce the significance of this conclusion. In Chapter 4 I describe and outline corrections for the VIPERS spectroscopic selection, which enable these constraints to be made. The VIPERS selection strategy is (projected) density dependent and may potentially bias measures of galaxy clustering. Throughout this work I present numerous tests of possible systematic biases, which are performed with the aid of realistic VIPERS mock catalogues. These also allow for accurate statistical error estimates to be made { by incorporating the sample variance due to both the finite volume and finite number density. Chapter 5 details the development and testing of a new, rapid approach for the forward modelling of the power spectrum multipole moments obtained from a survey with an involved angular mask. An investigation of the necessary corrections for the VIPERS PDR-1 angular mask is recorded. This includes an original derivation for the integral constraint correction for a smoothed, joint-field estimate of ¯n(z) and a description of how the mask should be accounted for in light of the Alcock- Paczynski effect. Chapter 7 investigates the inclusion of a simple local overdensity transform: 'clipping' prior to the redshift-space distortions (RSD) analysis. This tackles the root cause of non-linearity and potentially extends the validity of perturbation theory. Moreover, this marked clustering statistic potentially amplifies signatures of modified gravity and, as a density-weighted two-point statistic, includes information not available to the power spectrum. I show that a linear real-space power spectrum with a Kaiser factor and a Lorentzian damping yields a significant bias without clipping, but that this may be removed with a sufficiently strict transform; similar behaviour is observed for the VIPERS v7 dataset. Estimates of fσ8 for different thresholds are highly correlated due to the overlapping volume, but the bias for insufficient clipping can be calibrated and the correlation obtained using mock catalogues. A maximum likelihood value for the combined constraint of a number of thresholds is shown to achieve a ' 16% decrease in statistical error relative to the most precise single-threshold estimate. The results are encouraging to date but represent a work in progress; the final analysis will be submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics as Wilson et al. (2016). In addition to this, an original extension of the prediction for a clipped Gaussian field to a clipped lognormal field is presented. The results of tests of this model with a real-space cube populated according to the halo occupation distribution model are also provided.

String theory imposes slight modifications to Einstein's equations of general relativity (GR). In (4), the authors claim that the gravitational field equations in empty space, which in GR are just R [subscript greek letters mu nu ] = 0, should hold one extra term which is first order in the string constant [alpha'] and proportional to the Riemann curvature tensor squared. They do admit, however, that this simple modification is just schematic. In (1) the authors use modified equations which are coupled to the dilation field. We show that equations given in (4) do not admit an isotropic solution; justification of these equations would require sacrificing isotropy. We thus investigate the consequences of the coupled equations from (1) and the black-hole solution they give there. We calculate the additional perihelion precession of Mercury, the added deflection of photons by the sun, and the extra gravitational redshift which should be present if these equations hold. We determine that additional effects due to string theory in each of these cases are quite minuscule.
B.S.
Bachelors
Sciences
Physics

Despite the many successes of the current standard model of cosmology on the largest physical scales, it relies on two phenomenologically motivated constituents, cold dark matter and dark energy, which account for approximately 95% of the energy-matter content of the universe. From a more fundamental point of view, however, the introduction of a dark energy (DE) component is theoretically challenging and extremely fine-tuned, despite the many proposals for its dynamics. On the other hand, the concept of cold dark matter (CDM) also suffers from several issues such as the lack of direct experimental detection, the question of its cosmological abundance and problems related to the formation of structure on small scales. A perhaps more natural solution might be that the gravitational interaction genuinely differs from that of general relativity, which expresses itself as either one or even both of the above dark components. Here we consider different possibilities on how to constrain hypothetical modifications to the gravitational sector, focusing on the subset of tensor-vector-scalar (TeVeS) theory as an alternative to CDM on galactic scales and a particular class of chameleon models which aim at explaining the coincidences of DE. Developing an analytic model for nonspherical lenses, we begin our analysis with testing TeVeS against observations of multiple-image systems. We then approach the role of low-density objects such as cosmic filaments in this framework and discuss potentially observable signatures. Along these lines, we also consider the possibility of massive neutrinos in TeVeS theory and outline a general approach for constraining this hypothesis with the help of cluster lenses. This approach is then demonstrated using the cluster lens A2390 with its remarkable straight arc. Presenting a general framework to explore the nonlinear clustering of density perturbations in coupled scalar field models, we then consider a particular chameleon model and highlight the possibility of measurable effects on intermediate scales, i.e. those relevant for galaxy clusters. Finally, we discuss the prospects of applying similar methods in the context of TeVeS and present an ansatz which allows to cast the linear perturbation equations into a more convenient form.

This thesis reports on the recent results of a continuing, high-precision pulsar timing project, currently focused on the nearby, binary millisecond pulsar, PSR J0437_4715. Pulse arrival time analysis has yielded a remarkable series of constraints on the physical parameters of this system and evidence for the distortion of space-time as predicted by the General Theory of Relativity. Owing to the proximity of the PSR J0437_4715 system, relative changes in the positions of the Earth and pulsar result in both annual and secular evolution of the line of sight to the pulsar. Although the changes are miniscule, the effects on the projected orbital parameters are detectable in our data at a high level of significance, necessitating the implementation of an improved timing model. In addition to producing estimates of astrometric parameters with unparalleled precision, the study has also yielded the first three-dimensional orbital geometry of a binary pulsar. This achievement includes the first classical determination of the orbital inclination, thereby providing the unique opportunity to verify the shape of the Shapiro delay and independently confirm a general relativistic prediction. With a current post-fit arrival time residual RMS of 130 ns over four years, the unrivaled quality of the timing data presented herein may eventually contribute to the most stringent limit on the energy density of the proposed stochastic gravitational wave background. Continuing the quest for even greater timing precision, a detailed study of the polarimetry of PSR J0437_4715 was undertaken. This effort culminated in the development of a new, phase-coherent technique for calibrating the instrumental response of the observing system. Observations were conducted at the Parkes 64-m radio telescope in New South Wales, Australia, using baseband recorder technologies developed at York University, Toronto, and at the California Institute of Technology. Data were processed off-line at Swinburne University using a beowulf-style cluster of high-performance workstations and custom software developed by the candidate as part of this thesis.

La relativité générale (RG) et le modèle standard des particules permettent de comprendre les quatre interactions fondamentales de la nature. La formulation d'une théorie quantique de la gravitation permettrait d'unifier ces deux tenants de la physique moderne. D'après les grandes théories d'unification, une telle union est possible moyennant la brisure de certaines symétries fondamentales apparaissant à la fois en RG et dans le modèle standard telle la symétrie de Lorentz. Les violations de la symétrie de Lorentz peuvent être paramétrées dans tous les domaines de la Physique par une théorie effective du champ appelée extension du modèle standard (SME). Une violation au principe d'invariance locale de Lorentz dans le secteur gravitationnel serait supposée engendrer des perturbations dans la dynamique orbitale des corps présents dans le système solaire, notamment la Lune. Ainsi, à partir des données extrêmement précises de télémétrie laser, l'orbite lunaire peut être minutieusement analysée afin de débusquer d'éventuelles anomalies dans son mouvement. Dans cette optique, ELPN (Ephéméride Lunaire Parisienne Numérique), une nouvelle éphéméride lunaire intégrée dans le cadre du formalisme SME a été développée durant la thèse. ELPN fournit les solutions au problème lunaire sous la forme de séries temporelles datées en temps dynamique barycentrique (TDB). Parmi les solutions numériquement intégrées, mentionnons la position et la vitesse du vecteur barycentrique Terre-Lune, les angles de librations lunaires, la différence entre le temps terrestre et le TDB, ainsi que l'ensemble des dérivées partielles intégrées depuis l'équation aux variations. Les prédictions de l'éphéméride ont été utilisées afin de réduire les observations lunar laser ranging (LLR). Dans le cadre de la RG, la dispersion des résidus s'est avérée en accord avec les dispersions calculées à partir des éphémérides INPOP13b et DE430. Dans le cadre du SME minimal, l'analyse des données LLR a permis de contraindre toutes violations à l'invariance locale de Lorentz. Une grande attention a été portée à l'analyse des incertitudes afin de fournir des contraintes réalistes. Ainsi, dans un premier temps, les combinaisons linéaires de coefficients SME ont été isolées puis ajustées aux observations. Puis, dans un second temps, les incertitudes réalistes ont été déterminées par une méthode de ré-échantillonnage. L'analyse des données de télémétrie laser Lune n'a pas permis de révéler de violations au principe d'invariance locale de Lorentz agissant au niveau de l'orbite lunaire. Les prédictions de la RG ont donc été validées avec des précisions absolues allant de 10-9 à 10-12
General Relativity (GR) and the standard model of particle physics provide a comprehensive description of the four interactions of nature. A quantum gravity theory is expected to merge these two pillars of modern physics. From unification theories, such a combination would lead to a breaking of fundamental symmetry appearing in both GR and the standard model of particle physics as the Lorentz symmetry. Lorentz symmetry violations in all fields of physics can be parametrized by an effective field theory framework called the standard-model extension (SME). Local Lorentz Invariance violations in the gravitational sector should impact the orbital motion of bodies inside the solar system, such as the Moon. Thus, the accurate lunar laser ranging (LLR) data can be analyzed in order to study precisely the lunar motion to look for irregularities. For this purpose, ELPN (Ephéméride Lunaire Parisienne Numérique), a new lunar ephemeris has been integrated in the SME framework. This new numerical solution of the lunar motion provides time series dated in temps dynamique barycentrique (TDB). Among that series, we mention the barycentric position and velocity of the Earth-Moon vector, the lunar libration angles, the time scale difference between the terrestrial time and TDB and partial derivatives integrated from variational equations. ELPN predictions have been used to analyzed LLR observations. In the GR framework, the residuals standard deviations has turned out to be the same order of magnitude compare to those of INPOP13b and DE430 ephemerides. In the framework of the minimal SME, LLR data analysis provided constraints on local Lorentz invariance violations. Spetial attention was paid to analyze uncertainties to provide the most realistic constraints. Therefore, in a first place, linear combinations of SME coefficients have been derived and fitted to LLR observations. In a second time, realistic uncertainties have been determined with a resampling method. LLR data analysis did not reveal local Lorentz invariance violations arising on the lunar orbit. Therefore, GR predictions are recovered with absolute precisions of the order of 10-9 to 10-12

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Theories of extra dimensions have been extensively studied in recent years with the original intention of solving the hierarchy problem. Among the models of extra dimensions we can mention the braneworld models, more precisely, the Randall-Sundrum model, which considers our universe as a brane embedded in an ambient space with an extra dimension of infinite size. The fundamental aspect of the brane models is that matter and fields are confined in a hypersurface and only gravity has access to all dimensions. Thus, observational tests involving gravity may provide a way of verifying the existence of extra dimensions. With this idea in mind, in this work, we find black hole solutions in a regularized version of a RSII type brane and then we consider two classical tests of general relativity to these solutions. We studied the in uence of transversal movement in the four-dimensional path of the particles. We note that the de ection of light and the time delay, in this scenario, depend on the energy ( frequency ) of the light signal and can, therefore, give rise to the phenomenon of gravitational rainbow. We also discuss a model of thick branes known as the split fermion model. In this model electrons and protons are located on di¤erent hypersurfaces of the brane. We found that, in the presence of a gravitational eld generated by a massive body, these particles will experience di¤erent four-dimensional geometries. This violation of the equivalence principle, from the viewpoint of four-dimensional observers, produces interesting phenomena as, for instance, the gravitational induction of an electric dipole in a hydrogen atom. We veri ed that the Hamiltonian that describes this e¤ect has the same form of the Stark Hamiltonian, i.e., H = ~A ~r, where the tidal acceleration ~A(due to the separation of electron and proton in the extra dimension) substitutes the electric eld and the reduced mass atom replaces the electric charge.
Teorias de dimensões extras têm sido amplamente estudadas nos últimos anos, com o intuito original de resolver o problema da hierarquia. Entre os modelos de dimensões extras podemos citar o modelo de branas Randal-Sundrum, que trata o nosso universo como uma brana imersa em um espaço ambiente com uma dimensão extra de comprimento infinito. O aspecto fundamental do cenário de branas é que a matéria e os campos estão confinados em uma hipersuperfície e, apenas, a gravidade tem acesso a todas as dimensões. Sendo assim, testes observacionais envolvendo a gravitação podem oferecer meios de se verificar a existência das dimensões extras. Com esta ideia em mente, neste trabalho, encontramos soluções de buracos negros em uma versão regularizada de uma brana (ou seja, com espessura) do tipo RSII e aplicamos, então, dois testes clássicos da relatividade geral para estas soluções de buracos negros, estudando a influência do movimento transversal nas trajetórias quadrimensionais das partículas. Constatamos que o desvio da luz e o atraso temporal, neste cenário, passam a depender da energia (frequência) do sinal luminoso, podendo, portanto, dar origem ao fenômeno de arco-íris gravitacional. Discutimos também um modelo de branas com espessura, conhecido como modelo de separação de férmions, formulado com o propósito de explicar a estabilidade do próton sem recorrer a algum tipo de simetria. Neste modelo, elétrons e prótons estão localizados em diferentes hipersuperfícies da brana. Verificamos que na presença de um campo gravitacional gerado por um corpo massivo, estas partículas irão sentir diferentes geometrias quadrimensionais. Esta aparente violação do princípio da equivalência, do ponto de vista de observadores quadrimensionais, produz interessantes fenômenos como, por exemplo, a indução, pela gravidade, de um dipolo elétrico em um átomo de Hidrogênio. Verificamos que a Hamiltoniana que descreve este efeito tem a mesma forma da Hamiltoniana de Stark, ou seja, H = ~A ~r, onde a aceleração de maré ~A (devido à separação de elétron e próton na dimensão extra) está no lugar do campo elétrico e a massa reduzida do átomo substitui a carga elétrica.

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Nesta tese aplicamos o método perturbativo, em nível clássico, à Gravidade de Quarta Ordem e à Relatividade Geral estendida pelo Grupo de Renormalização (RGGR). Para explorar as perturbações métricas, na teoria da Gravidade de Quarta Ordem, nós usamos a formulação de campos auxiliares para uma métrica de fundo curva e arbitrária. O caso em que a métrica de fundo é Ricci-plano foi elaborada em detalhes. Notamos que o uso de campos auxiliares tornará a análise perturbativa mais simples e os resultados mais claros. Como uma aplicação, nós reconsideramos os resultados para a estabilidade do buraco negro de Schwarzschild e discutimos alguns avanços para o buraco negro de Kerr na Gravidade de Quarta Ordem. Nós também usamos o método perturbativo para explorar os limites newtoniano e pós-newtoniano de RGGR. No Sistema Solar, RGGR depende de um único parâmetro adimensional /9, e ele é tal que para /9 = 0 a Relatividade Geral é obtida. Para estudar o limite newtoniano fizemos uso da técnica de transformação conforme e da dinâmica do vetor de Laplace-Runge-Lenz (LRL). Isso nos permitiu estimar o limite superior de P dentro do Sistema Solar em dois casos: um quando é levado em conta o efeito de potencial externo e outro quando ele não é considerado. Anteriormente, foi encontrado que este parâmetro satisfaz o seguinte limite /9 < 10-21, quando o efeito de potencial externo é ignorado. Entretanto, como nós mostramos esse limite cresce cinco ordens de magnitude P < 10-16 quando tal efeito é considerado. Além disso, mostramos que para um certo limite, RGGR pode ser facilmente testada usando o formalismo parametrizado pós-newtoniano (PPN).
In this thesis we applied the perturbative method, on a classical level, to the fourth-order gravity and the Renormalization Group extended General Relativity (RGGR). We will consider auxiliary fields formulation for the general fourth-order gravity on an arbitrary curved back-ground to analyze the metric perturbations in this theory. The case of a Ricci-flat background was elaborated in detail. We noticed that the use of auxiliary fields helps to make the pertur-bative analysis easier and the results more clear. As an application we reconsider the stability problem of the Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes in the fourth-order gravity. We also used the perturbative method to develop the Newtonian and post-Newtonian limits of RGGR. In the Solar System, RGGR depends on a single dimensionless parameter 0, and this parameter is such that for 0 = 0 one fully recovers General Relativity in the Solar System. In order to study the Newtonian limit we used the conformal transformation technique and the dynamics of the Laplace-Runge-Lenz vector (LRL). In this way, we could estimate the upper bound for 0 within the Solar System in two case: the case where the external potential effect is considered and the another when it is not considered. Previously this parameter was constrained to be 0 < 10-21, without considering the external potential effect. However, as we showed, when such an effect is considered this bound increases by five orders of magnitude, O < 10-16. Moreover, we showed that under a certain approximation RGGR can be easily tested using the parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism.

Apresentamos neste trabalho uma generalização da teoria de perturbações cosmológicas para o caso de universos homogêneos e anisotrópicos, caracterizados por um espaço-tempo do tipo Bianchi I. Como aplicação da teoria, investigamos as conseqüências de uma fase inflacionária e anisotrópica do universo dos pontos de vista clássico e quântico. Após uma discussão da evolução do espaço-tempo de fundo nós quantizamos os modos perturbativos para, em seguida, construir o espectro de potências das perturbações de curvatura e de ondas gravitacionais do fim da inflação. Nossos resultados mostram que as principais características de uma fase anisotrópica primordial do universo são: (1) dependência direcional dos espectros de potências, (2) acoplamento entre as perturbações de curvatura e as ondas gravitacionais e (3) espectros distintos para as diferentes polarizações das ondas gravitacionais em grandes escalas cosmológicas. Todos esses efeitos são importantes apenas em grandes escalas cosmológicas e, localmente, recuperamos a teoria isotrópica de perturbações cosmológicas. Nossos resultados dependem de uma escala característica que pode, embora não seja estritamente necessário, ser ajustada a alguma escala observável.
In this work we generalize the standard theory of cosmological perturbations to the case of homogeneous and anisotropic universes described by a Bianchi I spacetime metric. As an application of this theory we investigate the predictions of an inflationary anisotropic phase, both at the classical and quantum level. After discussing the evolution of the background spacetime, we solve and quantize the perturbation equations in order to predict the power spectra of the curvature perturbations and gravity waves at the end of inflation. Our results show that the main features of an early anisotropic phase are: (1) a dependence of the spectra on the direction of the modes, (2) a coupling between curvature perturbations and gravity waves, and (3) the fact that the two gravity waves polarisations do not share the same spectrum on large scales. All these effects are significant only on large scales and die out on small scales where isotropy is recovered. Finally, our results depend on a characteristic scale that can, but a priori does not have to, be tuned to some observable scale.

Extreme-Mass-Ratio Inspirals (EMRIs) són sistemes binaris que estan compostos per Objectes Estel.lars Compactes (OECs) orbitant al voltant de Forats Negres Massius (FNMs) situats als centres galàctics. Aquests sistemes són una de les fonts pricipals d’Ones Gravitacionals (OGs) per detectors espacials com l’antena espacial LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna). Un EMRI emet senyals molt llargs i complexes dintre del fort camp gravitatori del FNM. Aquests senyals porten codificada l’estructura del FNM. Per aquest motiu, les OGs procedent d’EMRIs són una font valuosa per estudiar els FNMs situats als centres galàctics i la ciencia relacionada amb ells. En aquesta tesi estudiem dos aspectes diferents dels EMRIs: El seu modelatge i l’estimació dels paràmetres del sistema a partir dels seus senyals gravitatoris. La primera part d’aquesta tesi està dedicada al modelatge d’EMRIs, necessari per obtenir les formes d’ona de les OGs que farem servir en la seva detecció. Per aquest motiu, necessitem conèixer com el camp gravitatori del OEC afecta la seva propia trajectoria i el desvia d’un moviment geodèsic. En aquest sentit, degut a la gran diferència entre les masses del sistema, podem considerar l’OEC com a una partícula sense estructura que orbita en una geodèsica del FNM. En aquesta representació, la caiguda en espiral del OSC al voltant del FNM ve descrita per l’acció d’una autoforça local, la qual altera el moviment geodèsic de la partícula. No obstant, la implementació d’aquest mecanisme presenta diverses dificultats, degut principalment a que la descripció de l’OEC com un punt introdueix distribucions del tipus delta de Dirac. Aixó a la pràctica significa que hem de tractar amb escales temporals i espacials molt diferents, les quals estan associades al modelatge del FNM i al modelatge de l’OEC. En aquesta tesi presentem un mètode novel, el qual anomenem l’esquema de la Particle-without-Particle (PwP), que proporciona cálculs molt precisos i eficients de l’autoforça en el domini temporal, el que fa de la nostra tècnica adequada pels càlculs intensius que es requereixen en els escenaris astrofísics relevants. El punt clau del nostre métode és que no resolvem l’OEC. En el seu lloc, evitem incloure la seva presència en el (multi-)domini computacional, sustituint la delta de Dirac per condicions de contorn. Conseqüentment, només hem de proporcionar la resolució numèrica necessaria per descriure el camp aprop l’OSC, però no l’OSC mateix. D’aquesta manera tots el problemes relacionats amb la resolució d’una escala petita desapareixen. El treball desenvolupat en aquesta tesi, pot ser millorat in termes de temps de computació i putser en precisió si explorem diferent tècniques per portar el els contorns exteriors del domini computacional més aprop de la parícula sense degradar la precissió dels valors del camp a prop d’ella. Aixó es podria fer millorant les condicions de contorn exteriors o compactificant el domini físic. Hi han dos possibilitats més que podem explorar per fer els nostres càlculs més rápids, que són: (i) Reduïr el pas temporal de les nostres evolucions numèriques i (ii) paral.lelitzar el nostre codi i fer servir ordinadors amb múltiples cors (encara que aixó no incrementaria el temps de CPU). Degut a que en le cas d’un FNM de tipus Schwarzschild, com el presentat en aquesta tesi, els diferents modes no estan acoplats, en pricipi això no hauria de ser una tasca difícil d’assolir. A més a més, podem fer servir extrapol.lacions Richardson per millorar l’estimació dels valosrs de l’autoforça. Aquestes millores es poden aplicar perfectament dintre del nostre marc computacional i ténen un potencial significatiu per milloar l’eficiència dels nostres càlculs. Finalment, l’objectiu principal de la formulació presentada en aquesta tesi és desenvolupar un mètod acurat i eficient per calcular l’autoforça en situacions d’interés físic. En particular, per sistemes d’interés pel futur observatory espacial LISA. Aixó significa extendre aquestes tècniques pel cas gravitatori i per FNs amb rotació. En aquest sentit, hem de fer menció que encara que transferir les nostres técniques al cas gravitatori és directe, fer el mateix pel cas d’un FN en rotiació requereix noves millores que seran l’objectiu d’investigacions futures. En la segona part de la tesi, investiguem si és o no possible fer servir observacions d’EMRIs per testejar una determinada teoria de la Gravetat, en particular la teoria Dinàmica Chern- Simons de la Gravetat Modificada (DCSGM). La idea és que l’OEC orbita en la part més profunda del potencial gravitatori del FNM, això és els sistemes EMRI emeten OGs desde la regió de camp gravitatori fort del FNM. D’aquesta manera, la forma i el ritme de les OGs emesses pel sistema porten codificades l’estructura de l’espaitemps del FNM i la forma en la que les freqüències característiques del sistema evolucionen. Aquesta informació és la que ens permet realitzar tests de la RG. Amb aquesta finalitat, hem obtingut les forma d’ona emesses per l’OEC en una geometria del FNM que ha sigut modificada amb correccions Chern-Simons (CS). L’estimació dels paràmetres del sistema s’ha dut a terme fent servir anàlisis de Fisher matrix. Hem començat estudiant un sistema típic EMRI en RG i hem trobat que els nostres resultats coincidien amb resultats previs que es troven en la literatura. Seguidament, hem realitzat estudis d’estimacions de paràmetres per determinar l’habilitat de LISA per distingir entre RG i DCSGM, en particular per estimar el paràmetre de CS , el qual diferencia les mètriques de la DCSMG i de la RG. Amb aquesta finalitat, hem realitzat simulacions d’un sistema EMRI que cau en el punt de la banda de LISA amb sensibilitat màxima i que hem fet evolucionar durant els sis mesos abans de la col.lisió de l’OSC amb el FNM. Els nostres reultats indiquen que per determinats sistems EMRI, un detector com LISA podría discriminar entre RG i DCSGM. També hem vist que l’error en estimar disminueix amb la massa del FNM. Per tal de millorar els nostres reusltats, voldriem realitzar un estudi més exhaustiu de l’espai de paràmetres dels EMRIs. En un futur voldriem estudiar tòpics com ara comparar o esimar els errors que poden sorgir fent servir formes d’ones de RG per detectar EMRIs en DCSGM. A tal efecte, hem d’estimar la magnitud de l’error del nostre model. Ens agradaria extrendre l’estudi presentat en aquesta tesis per altres detectors d’OGs com, per exemple, Intermediate-Mass-Ratio Inspirals (IMRIs) en l’Einstein Telescope.
Extreme-Mass-Ratio Inspirals (EMRIs) are binary systems which are made up of a Stellarmass Compact Object (SCO) orbiting around a Massive Black Hole (MBH) located in a galactic centre. These systems are one of the main sources of GWs for space-based detectors like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). EMRIs emit long and complex GWs signals in the strong field regime of the MBHs, which encode the MBH structure. For this reason, EMRI GW signals are a valuable tool to study the MBHs located in the galactic centres and the science related with them. In this thesis, we study two different aspects of EMRIs, namely modelling and the parameter estimation of the system from their gravitational signals. The first part of the thesis is devoted to the modelling of EMRIs, to produce the GW waveforms needed for their detections. To that end, we have to know how the gravitational field of the SCO affects its own trajectory and deviates it from geodesic motion. In this regard, due to the extreme mass-ratio of the system, we can consider the SCO as a structureless particle orbiting in a geodesic of the exact MBH geometry. In this picture, the inspiral of the SCO around the MBH is described through the action of a local self-force, which alters the geodesic motion of the particle. However, the implementation of this mechanism presents several difficulties, mainly due to the point-like description of the SCO, which introduces Dirac delta distributions. This in practice means that one has to deal with very different spatial scales, one associated with the modelling of the SCO and another associated with the MBH. Moreover, the extreme mass ratio of these systems implies that we have to deal with two different time scales in the dynamics of the system, one associated with the orbital evolution of the SCO and another associated with the evolution of its orbit due to GW emission. We present a new method, which we call the Particle-without-Particle (PwP) method, that provides very efficient and accurate computations of the self-force in the time-domain, which makes our technique amenable for the intensive computations required in the astrophysically relevant scenarios. The key point of our scheme is that it does not need to resolve the SCO. Instead, we avoid its presence in the computational (multi-)domain by substituting the Dirac delta distributions by boundary conditions. Consequently, we have just to provide the numerical resolution to describe the field near the SCO, but not the SCO itself. In this way, the equations that we have to solve inside each subdomain are homogeneous wave-type equations for the fields. Consequently, all the problems related with the numerical resolution of a small scale disappear. The work we have presented here can be further improved in terms of computational time, and perhaps in accuracy, by exploring techniques to bring the outer boundaries closer to the particle without degrading the accuracy of the field values near it. This can be done either by improving the outgoing boundary conditions or by compactifying the physical domain. There are two more possibilities for making our computations faster, which are: (i) To reduce the time step of our numerical evolutions and, (ii) to parallelise our numerical code and use computers with many cores (although this does not decrease the CPU time). Since for a Schwarzschild MBH case, like the ones studied in this thesis, the different modes are not coupled, this is in principle a simple task. In addition, we can introduce Richardson extrapolation, to improve the estimations of the values of the self-force. These improvements can be perfectly applied to our framework and have significant potential to improve the efficiency of the computations. Since, the main goal of the formulation presented in this thesis is to develop an accurate and efficient method to compute the self-force in situations of physical interest. In particular, for systems of interest for the future observatory LISA. This means to extend these techniques for the gravitational case and for spinning MBHs. In this sense, we have to mention that while it is straightforward to transfer these techniques discussed here to the gravitational case, to do the same with the case of a spinning black hole may require new technical improvements which we will the subject of future investigations. In the second part of the thesis, we investigate whether we can use EMRI observations to test a particular theory of Gravity, namely Dynamical Chern-Simons Modified Gravity (DCSMG) theory. The idea is that the SCO orbits are deep inside the MBH gravitational potential, that is, EMRI systems emit GWs from the strong field region of the MBH. In this way, the shape and timing of the GWs emitted by the system have encoded the structure of the MBH spacetime and the way in which the characteristic frequencies of the system evolve. This information allows us to perform tests of GR and even of other theories of gravity, in particular, we have focused on the possibility of distinguishing between GR and Dynamical Chern Simons Modified Gravity (DCSMG). To that end, we have computed the waveforms emitted by an SCO orbiting in a MBH geometry which have been modified with CS corrections. The parameter estimation has been performed employing Fisher matrix analysis. First of all, we have studied a typical EMRI system in GR and we have found agreement between our results and previous ones found in the literature. Afterwards, we have performed parameter estimation studies to estimate the ability of LISA to distinguish between GR and DCSMG, in particular by estimating the CS parameter , which differentiates the DCSNG metric from the GR one. To that end, we have performed simulations of an EMRI system which falls in the sweet spot of the LISA sensitivity band and which has been evolved during the last six months before plunge. Our results indicates that for certain EMRI systems a detector like LISA may discriminate between GR and DCSMG. We have also seen that the error in estimating decreases with the MBH mass. In order to improve the present results, we would like to perform a more exhaustive study of the parameter space of EMRIs. In the future, we would like to address topics like to compare or estimate the errors that could arise using GR waveform templates to detect EMRIS in DCSMG. To that end, we should estimate the magnitude of the model errors. We would like to extend the study presented in this thesis to other GW detectors like, for instance, Intermediate-Mass-Ratio Inspirals (IMRIs) in the Einstein Telescope.

Este trabalho parte do pressuposto de que investigar as linguagens e pensamentos envolvidos nos processos de criação científica, no processo de interpretação do cientista frente aos fenômenos da natureza, pode nos indicar como trabalhar a ciência em sala de aula de maneira que as características epistemológicas deste conhecimento sejam levadas em consideração. Com isto, este trabalho toma uma perspectiva epistemológica. Quando pensamos no ensino básico, em particular, temos a indicação de que uma das dificuldades enfrentadas pelos alunos está relacionada à formalização do conhecimento científico. Isto é ainda mais forte na física, uma vez que este conhecimento tem uma relação muito próxima com a matemática. Mas qual é o papel epistemológico da matemática para a física? O cientista é capaz de interpretar fisicamente a natureza somente usando linguagens e pensamentos formais, especialmente estruturados pela matemática? Nossa hipótese é que a resposta a essa questão é negativa. Encontramos nas ideias do psicólogo Jerome Bruner uma forma de encaminhar nossa discussão. A partir das ideias dele, e do nosso anseio por investigar se pensamentos e linguagens que não são estritamente formais desempenham papel importante na construção da física, levantamos a seguinte questão: Qual o papel das narrativas e da matemática na construção da física? Para delinear uma resposta possível a esta questão, tomamos como contexto da nossa pesquisa alguns \"capítulos\" da construção da Teoria da Relatividade Geral. Nossa investigação mostrou que experimentos mentais importantes no desenvolvimento desta teoria foram construídos a partir dos pensamentos narrativo e matemático. Entendemos que estes dois modos de pensamentos se apresentaram de maneira complementar no contexto estudado.
This work assumes that investigate the language and thoughts involved in scientific processes of creating, in the scientist process of interpretation facing the nature phenomena, can reveal how to work the science in the classroom so that the epistemological features of this knowledge are taken into account. Taking this into account, our work takes an epistemological perspective. When we think in high school, in particular, we have the indication that one of the difficulties faced by students is related to the formalization of scientific knowledge. This is even stronger in physics, which mathematics plays important role. But what is the epistemological role of mathematics to physics? The scientist is able to physically interpret nature only using formal languages and thoughts, especially structured by mathematics? Our hypothesis is that the answer to this question is negative. We find the psychologist Jerome Bruner ideas a way to send our discussion. From his ideas, and our longing to investigate whether thoughts and languages that are not strictly formal play an important role in building physics, raised the question: What is the role of narrative and mathematics in physical construction? To outline a possible answer to this question, we take as the context of our research some \"chapters\" of the construction of the General Theory of Relativity. Our investigation has shown that important thought experiments in the development of this theory were built from the narrative and mathematical thoughts. We understand that these two modes of thought presented in a complementary manner in the context studied.

Estudos de perturbações em sistemas gravitacionais no âmbito da Relatividade Geral vêm sofrendo grandes desenvolvimentos nos últimos anos, especialmente em face da evolução dos modernos detectores de ondas gravitacionais. Abordamos neste trabalho as perturbações de diferentes cenários. Principiamos com a métrica de Vaidya, utilizada para descrever espaços-tempos esfericamente simétricos e dependentes do tempo. Nossas simulações mostraram que as freqüências dos modos quasi-normais (MQN\'s) apresentam um novo efeito inercial para variações rápidas da função de massa, retornando depois ao comportamento adiabático. Em seguida, apresentamos um modelo para a evaporação de mini buracos negros por radiação de Hawking inspirado no cenário de criação destes objetos em aceleradores de partículas, previsto pelas novas teorias com dimensões extras. Nosso modelo, baseado na métrica de Vaidya n-dimensional, tornou possível a análise de MQN\'s resultando na possibilidade de se obter os parâmetros relevantes do buraco negro, como a sua massa inicial e o número de dimensões extras, a partir de medições experimentais. Finalmente, realizamos um estudo sobre uma nova solução denominada gravastar, proposta como um modelo alternativo para o estágio final de estrelas com grande massa. Obtivemos limites para os parâmetros da solução e verificamos a sua estabilidade frente a perturbações axiais, concluindo positivamente a respeito da possibilidade de se distinguir entre buracos negros e gravastares com base no seu espectro de MQN\'s.
Perturbative studies of gravitational systems in General Relativity have gone through big developments in the last years, especially due to the evolution of the modern gravitational wave detectors. We consider in this work different perturbations in different scenarios. Firstly we consider the Vaidya metric, mainly used to describe time-dependent spherically symmetric spacetimes. Our simulations show that the frequencies of the quasinormal modes (QNM\'s) present a new inertial effect for rapidly varying mass functions, returning afterwards to the adiabatic behavior. Next we present a model for evaporating mini black holes in particle accelerators, in the context of the new gravity models with extra dimensions. With our model, based on the n-dimensional Vaidya metric, we are able to perform a QNM analysis which results in the possibility of obtaining the parameters of the black hole, such as its initial mass and the number of extra dimensions, from the experimental measurements. Finally, we present a study of a new solution, the gravastar, proposed as an alternative model for the end state of massive stars. We obtain bounds for the parameters of the solution and verify its stability against axial perturbations. Our results indicate that the gravastar\'s QNM spectrum can indeed be used to distinguish a black hole from a gravastar.

Obtivemos famílias de soluções estáticas e esfericamente simétricas para buracos negros numa brana com vácuo, constante cosmológica não nula e imersa num bulk 5-dimensional assintoticamente anti-de Sitter. Para o caso das geometrias assintoticamente de Sitter, o único membro da família obtida foi a geometria Schwarzschild-de Sitter extrema. Para o caso de geometrias assintoticamente anti-de Sitter, obtivemos toda uma família de soluções, onde cada elemento desta família é determinado por uma constante C. Estudamos o comportamento destas soluções próximo e longe do horizonte de eventos. A seguir, analisamos a evolução de um campo escalar não massivo no exterior dos buracos negros obtidos. Verificamos analiticamente e numericamente o comportamento do potencial efetivo em função da coordenada tartaruga próximo ao horizonte de eventos. Para qualquer geometria ou solução desta família observamos que o campo escalar não massivo decai com o tempo, e o tipo de decaimento depende do valor da constante C. Assim, toda a família de soluções obtida mostrou-se estável.
We found classes of static and spherically symmetric black hole solutions on the brane for a vacuum configuration, non-null cosmological constant, embedded into a 5-dimensional asymptotically anti-de Sitter bulk. In the asymptotically de Sitter case, the only solution obtained was the extreme Schwarzschild-de Sitter geometry. In the asymptotically anti-de Sitter case, a class of solutions was obtained where a particular geometry is fixed by a constant, C. We studied the behaviour of these solutions near and far from the horizon. Next, we studied the time evolution of a scalar field outside the black hole. For the effective potential as function of tortoise coordinate, the analytical results near the horizon agree with numerical calculations. The scalar field decays with time and the particular form of decay depends of the value for C. Thus, all solutions in the obtained class are stable.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho é estudar a interação dos buracos negros primordiais com as principais espécies físicas exóticas de matéria e energia que foram teorizadas para explicar as observações cosmológicas da última década. A interação com diferentes formas de energia escura a partir de campos escalares, como a energia phantom, e modelos de quartessência, como o gás de Chaplygin, associada a modelos já existentes de interação com espécies físicas mais bem conhecidas, fornece resultados importantes e sugere comportamentos inesperados na trajetória dos buracos negros primordiais desde a sua formação até os dias de hoje. Nossa análise abrange os aspectos dinâmicos e termodinâmicos da acreção e evaporação de buracos negros, explorando os limites de validade da teoria e estudando o comportamento sob as condições extremas que resultam desses novos modelos de matéria e energia. Finalmente, o estudo prossegue na direção de um modelo de evolução a partir diretamente das equações de campo, em um espaço-tempo totalmente dinâmico em que buscamos paralelos com as descrições provenientes das hipóteses simplificadoras sobre que nos baseamos durante os estágios anteriores. Os resultados permitem fazermos uma descrição unificada da evolução dos buracos negros, em que as relações entre todas as componentes são transparentes e suas contribuições individuais são facilmente identificadas. Associando-os à descrição termodinâmica, é possível traçar um quadro completo e abrangente do problema, capaz de acomodar novos modelos e prover uma compreensão profunda da interação dos buracos negros com o meio cosmológico.
We study the interaction between primordial black holes and the exotic dark matter and dark energy components which have been modeled to explain cosmological observations within the last decade. The interaction with different forms of scalar field dark energy, such as phantom energy, and quartessence models as the Chaplygin gas, together with the well-known interaction with the ordinary forms of matter and energy, provides important results and suggests unexpected behaviors on primordial black holes since their formation until the present time. Our analysis encompasses dynamical and thermodynamical aspects of black hole accretion and evaporation exploring the theory validity ranges and studying its behavior under the extreme conditions which arise from these new dark fluid models. Finally, our study progresses towards an evolution model based solely on the field equations, within a fully dynamical space-time in which we seek parallel descriptions with previous models, which use simplifying hypotheses. Our results provide a unified description of black hole evolution, in which the role of all components and their relation to each other are clear and easily identifiable. Along with the thermodynamical description, it is possible to make a comprehensive picture of the problem, capable of accommodating new models and furnish a deep understanding of black hole interaction with the cosmological environment.

Neste trabalho investigamos a base matemática de uma nova ténica para relacionar duas métricas em uma dada variedade que propomos chamar de reescalonamento conforme anisotrópico e que tem sido usada na literatura recente para dar uma nova e mais geométrica definição da noção de espaços-tempos assintoticamente planos em Relatividade Geral.
In this thesis, we investigate the mathematical basis of a new technique for relating two metrics on a given manifold that we propose to call anisotropic conformal rescaling and that has been used in the recent literature to give a new and more geometric de?nition of the notion of asymptotically ?at space-times in General Relativity.

A colisão de buracos negros é uma das fontes mais importantes de ondas gravitacionais e, em geral, a emissão anisotrópica da radiação causa um recuo do objeto final. Este cenário já é conhecido há décadas, mas foi somente com o recente avanço na relatividade numérica que as velocidades finais dos objetos radiantes foram computadas com precisão. Os valores encontrados podem ser altos o suficiente para exercerem um importante papel no crescimento de buracos negros super massivos via coleção de galáxias e na abundância de núcleos galáticos ativos contendo buracos negros. Este é um autêntico efeito da não linearidade de Relatividade Geral e esta tese fornece uma nova metodologia estudar alguns aspectos da dinâmica da colisão de buracos negros. Consideramos o horizonte como uma tela canônica que codifica as informações da evolução temporal do espaço-tempo. Com esta hipótese, fenômenos como o anti-kick, isto é, uma súbita desaceleração do sistema antes de atingir a velocidade final, são explicado em termos da dissipação das deformações do horizonte. Estudamos primeiramente o Espaço-tempo de Robinson-Trautman. Uma das solução mais simples das equações de Einstein, esta métrica nos fornece um poderoso modelo para investigar tanto a perda de massa quanto o recuo do objeto final. Mostramos que, quando as configurações iniciais tem simetria especular, a massa do buraco negro remanescente e a energia irradiada são completamente determinadas pela condição inicial. Com isso, obtemos as expressões analíticas dos resultados numéricos obtidos anteriormente na literatura. Além disto, com o auxilio do método espectral de Galerkin, analisamos o regime não linear das equações envolvidas e verificamos que se pode estimar a velocidade de recuo final com boa precisão a partir de medidas da assimetria da condição inicial. Introduzimos na seqüência a curvatura efetiva como uma medida das deformações intrínsecas ao horizonte. Além de considerar as deformações gerais, ela também inclui as diferenças entre os hemisférios norte e sul. No espaço-tempo de Robinson-Trautman, essa quantidade se correlaciona de uma forma injetora com a velocidade final. Para superar algumas limitações dessa solução, aplicamos o mesmo procedimento nos resultados da simulação numérica de uma colisão head-on. Neste caso, a curvatura efetiva, está na realidade, correlacionada com a aceleração do sistema. Refinamentos e generalizações desta técnica são também discutidos e propostos para trabalhos futuros.
Colliding black holes are one of the most important sources of gravitational waves and the anisotropic emission of the radiation generally causes the recoil of the final hole. This scenario has been known for decades, but it is only thanks to the recent progress in numerical relativity that the final velocity have been accurately computed. The values found can be large enough to play an important role in the growth of supermassive black holes via mergers of galaxies and on the number of galaxies containing them. This is a genuine nonlinear effect of general relativity and this thesis provides a new methodology to study some features on the dynamics of the collision. We propose that the horizon is a canonical screen, which encodes he information of its surroundings. With this assumption, phenomena such as the anti-kick, namely the sudden deceleration before reaching the final velocity, are explained in terms of the dissipation of the horizons deformation. We first study the Robinson-Trautman spacetime. One of the simplest solutions of Einsteins equations, it provides us with a powerful toymodel to investigate both the mass loss of the system and the recoil of the final object. We show that, for the case of reflectionsymmetric initial configurations, the mass of the remnant black-hole and the total energy radiated away are completely determined by the initial data, allowing us to obtain analytical expressions for some numerical results that had appeared in the literature. Moreover, by using the Galerkin spectral method to analyze the non-linear regime of the equations involved, we found that the recoil velocity can be estimated with good accuracy from some symmetry measures of the initial data. Then we introduce the effective urvature as a measure of intrinsic deformations on the horizon. Not only does it account for overall deformation, but also for the differences on the north and south hemispheres. In the Robinson-Trautman spacetime, this quantity correlates in an injective way with the final velocity. To overcome some caveats of this solutions, we apply the same procedure to the results given by numerical simulations of a head-on collision. In the case, the effective curvature is actually correlated with the acceleration of the system. Further improvement and generalizations of this technic is also discussed and proposed for future work.

Neste trabalho, estudamos as subvariedades das formas espaciais pseudo-Riemannianas M^n_v(c) com vetor curvatura média de tipo luz, chamadas marginalmente aprisionadas, explorando as relações desta condição (motivada pela Física) com várias outras hipóteses de caráter geométrico, como lambda-isotropia, presença de nulidade relativa e invariância por um certo grupo de transformações de Lorentz. Em particular, apresentamos vários resultados de classificação e rigidez de superfícies marginalmente aprisionadas nos espaços de Lorentz-Minkowski L^4, de Sitter S^4_1 e anti-de Sitter H^4_1 nestes contextos, adaptando e generalizando resultados de alguns artigos.
In this work, we study the submanifolds of pseudo-Riemannian space forms M^n_v(c) with lightlike mean curvature vector, called marginally trapped, exploring the relations of this condition (motivated by Physics) with several other assumptions of geometric character, such as \\lambda-isotropy, presence of relative nullity and invariance by a certain group of Lorentz transformations. In particular, we prove several ridigity and classification results for marginally trapped surfaces in Lorentz-Minkowski space L^4, de Sitter space S^4_1 and anti-de Sitter space H^4_1 in these settings, adapting and generalizing results from several papers.

Desenvolvemos aqui um estudo das formulações alternativas-equivalentes da Relatividade Geral, baseada no formalismo de conexões de Ashtekar. Iniciamos discutindo a estrutura matemática necessária de fibrados e conexões, e a teoria de sistemas Hamiltonianos vinculados. Em seguida, damos uma breve introdução ao formalismo métrico de Einstein e então passamos ao formalismo geometrodinâmico canônico (formalismo ADM). Introduzimos as transformações no espaço de fase que geram as formulações alternativas, de forma generalizada tal que possamos obter ambas as variáveis complexas de Ashtekar ou as variáveis reais de Barbero, ou mesmo qualquer forma intermediária por meio do parâmetro de Immirzzi.
We develop here a study of the alternative-equivalent formulations of General Relativity, based on Ashtekars connexion formalism. We begin discussing the mathematical structure needed of fibre bundles and connexions, and the theory of constrained Hamiltonian systems. Next, we give a brief introduction for Einsteins metric formalism and then we pass to the canonical geometrodynamic formalism (ADM formalism). We introduce the transformations of the phase space which generate the alternative formulations, in a generalized form such that we can obtain both Ashtekars complex variables or Barberos real variables, or even any intermediary form by using the Immirzzi parameter.

La trajectoire des sondes spatiales, calculée à partir des informations obtenues avec le lien radio, est un outil important pour la conduite des missions spatiales ainsi que pour le test de la loi de gravitation dans le Système Solaire. L'ajout d'un accéléromètre à bord d'une sonde fournit aux scientifiques une information supplémentaire d'un grand intérêt puisqu'il mesure la valeur de l'accélération non-gravitationnelle de la sonde, c'est-à-dire sa déviation par rapport à un mouvement géodésique. Des accéléromètres électrostatiques sont actuellement utilisés sur plusieurs missions de géodésie. Cette thèse est centrée sur le Gravity Advanced Package, un instrument composé d'un accéléromètre électrostatique et d'une platine rotative. Cette évolution technologique permet de faire des mesures d'accélération non-gravitationnelle sans biais. Cela est essentiel pour le succès scientifique d'une mission interplanétaire du point de vue du test de la gravitation. En effet, en mesurant sans biais l'accélération non-gravitationnelle d'une sonde interplanétaire et en utilisant ces mesures dans le processus de restitution d'orbite, il est possible de tester la gravitation de manière non ambiguë. Avec les technologies présentées dans cette thèse, l'accélération non-gravitationnelle d'une sonde spatiale peut être mesurée avec une précision de 1 pm.s^{-2} pour un temps d'intégration de 3 heures. Ces mesures, utilisées conjointement avec les données issues du lien radio, permettent d'obtenir une précision de 10^{-11} m.s^{-2} sur la loi de gravitation avec un arc de 21 jours.

Cerca de 25% do conteúdo energético do universo se encontra sob uma forma de natureza ainda não determinada e é conhecida pelo nome de matéria escura. Desde as primeiras especulações acerca de sua existência (Zwicky ~ 1933), vários modelos foram propostos na tentativa de justificar os dados observacionais encontrados mas, até hoje, nenhum deles foi capaz de cumprir essa tarefa a contento. Nesta dissertação, apresentaremos uma breve discussão desses modelos, além de propor um novo, baseado na idéia de que tanto a matéria escura quanto a energia escura possam ser compostas pelo campo escalar de Born-Infeld.
Nearly twenty five percent of the energetic content of the universe appears in a form that is still unknown and is named dark matter. Since the first speculations about its existence (Zwicky ~1933), many models have been proposed trying to justify all the observed data but, until now, none of them has been able to solve this problem. In this monography, we will present a brief discussion about these models and propose a new one, based on the idea that both dark matter and dark energy could be the Born Infeld scalar field.

Esta dissertação visa realizar um estudo acerca dos modelos de mundo brana no contexto proposto por Randall e Sundrum. O trabalho focaliza as perturbações de spin 0 no espaço-tempo de Kerr tomado como um mundo brana 4-dimensional. Para isso apresentamos os principais aspectos da Relatividade Geral de Einstein, bem como perturbações em métricas que descrevem buracos negros. Fizemos uma revisão dos modelos de Randall-Sundrum, suas motivações e tentativas de descrever buracos negros na brana. Por m a perturbação escalar da corda negra em rotação (Kerr-Randall-Sundrum) e o fenômeno de super-radiação são analisados.
This dissertation aims at studying the braneworld models in the context proposed by Randall and Sundrum. The focus is on the spin-0 perturbations in the Kerr space-time as a 4- dimensional braneworld. The work deals the main aspects of Einstein General Relativity as well as perturbations of black holes metrics. We also review the Randall-Sundrum models and their motivations and attempts to describe braneworld black holes. In the end the Kerr-Randall-Sundrum black string scalar perturbation and superradiance are obtained.

As propriedades termodinâmicas relacionadas a um gás composto por partículas bosônicas em geometrias esfericamente simétricas são apresentadas ao longo deste trabalho. Utilizando o formalismo proposto por Ishibashi e Kodama, verificou-se que as equações de movimento associadas aos campos escalar e eletromagnético podem ser reduzidas a uma equação tipo Schrödinger. Ao considerarmos algumas soluções esfericamente simétricas observou-se que o espectro de energia associado às partículas é discretizado. Em particular, no estudo das lightspheres, superfícies onde os fótons estão confinados em órbitas fechadas, propomos um mecanismo de quantização para as partículas bosônicas. Estudamos algumas propriedades termodinâmicas e dentro deste tratamento, é apresentada uma expressão para a densidade de energia espectral da radiação emitida. Nossos resultados sugerem que as lightspheres quando termalizadas com o seu ambiente, possuem propriedades termodinâmicas não-usuais. Ao levarmos em consideração a presença da constante cosmológica negativa, constatou-se que além de um espectro de energia discretizado, a geometria adS possui um comportamento confinante, podendo ser interpretada como uma caixa de tamanho conhecido. Considerando um gás de partículas bosônicas confinadas na geometria anti-de Sitter, obtivemos as grandezas termodinâmicas associadas tais como energia interna, entropia e pressão. Para a energia interna observamos um comportamento diferente do usual para o limite de baixas temperaturas.
The thermodynamic properties related to a gas composed of bosonic particles in spherically symmetrical geometries are presented in this work. Using the formalism proposed by Ishibashi and Kodama, we have seen that the equations of motion associated to the scalar and electromagnetic fields can be reduced to a Schrödinger-like equation. For some spherically symmetrical solutions it has been demonstrated that the energy spectrum associated with the particles is discretized. In particular, when we considered lightspheres, surfaces where photons are confined in closed orbits, we propose a quantization procedure for the bosonics particles. In this treatment, it is presented an expression for the spectral energy density of the emmited radiation. Our results suggest that lightspheres thermalized with its environment, have unusual thermodynamical properties. When taken into account the presence of the negative cosmological constant, it has been shown that, besides a discretized energy spectrum, the geometry has a confining behavior and can be interpreted as a finite size box. Considering a gas of bosonic particles confined in the anti-Sitter geometry, we obtained the associated thermodynamics quantities such as internal energy, entropy and pressure. For the internal energy, in the low temperatures limit, we observe a different behavior from the usual one.

The present-day interest in gravitational waves, justified by the recent direct detections made by LIGO, is opening the exciting possibility to answer many questions regarding General Relativity in extreme situations. One of these questions is whether black hole are – indeed – described totally by their mass, charge and angular momentum or whether they can have additional long-range hair. This project is concerned with this question. We aim at studying the influence of additional structure on the black hole horizon in the form of long-range hair by studying linearized Einstein equation the solutions when perturbed. More precisely, we will study the Schwarzschild solution, pierced by an infinitely long and thin cosmic string such that the space-time possesses a global deficit angle. Quasi-normal modes are believed to dominate the gravitational wave emission during the ring down phase of an excited black hole that would e.g. be the result of a merger of two ultra-compact objects, therefore linearized perturbations can be considered. With the advent of gravitational wave astronomy the proposed study will be very important when reconstructing the source of the detected gravitational wave signals.
O atual interesse em ondas gravitacionais, justificado pelas detecções diretas feitas pela colaboração LIGO recentemente, está abrindo a excitante possibilidade de responder várias questões a respeito da Relatividade Geral em condições estremas. Uma dessas questões é se buracos negros são – realmente – totalmente discritos apenas por sua massa, carga e momento angular ou se eles podem ter os chamados cabelos de longo alcance adicionais. Nosso projeto se preocupa em responder esta pergunta. Nosso objetivo está em estudar a influência de uma estrutura adicional no horizonte de eventos de um buraco negro através do comportamento da equação linearizada de Einstein quando a solução é perturbada. Mais precisamente, nós estudaremos a solução de Schwarzschild atravessada por uma corda cósmica infinitamente fina, tal corda faz com que o espaço-tempo tenha um hiato angular em seu plano equatorial. Acredita-se que modos quasi-normais dominem a emissão de ondas gravitacionais durante a fase de ringing down de buracos negros excitados que podem, por exemplo, se originar da colisão de objetos ultra compactos, portanto perturbações lineares podem ser consideradas. Com o advento da astronomia através de ondas gravitacionais o estudo proposto será importante para que se possa reconstruir a origem de sinais detectados.

Neste trabalho estudamos a dinâmica de discos torcidos finos e espessos para compreender melhor a propagação da deformação nestes discos. No caso dos discos finos, estudamos a física do efeito Bardeen-Petterson e aplicamos este modelo para explicar o jato em escalas de parsec e kilo-parsec da galáxia NGC 1275. Encotramos que o efeito Bardeen-Petterson reproduziu muito bem a forma do jato e com isto derivamos os parâmetros do disco como raio, valores das viscosidades azimutal e vertical, lei de potência da densidade superficial e spin do buraco negro. Para uma melhor compreensão da física destes discos, realizamos simulações GRMHD de discos moderadamente finos tanto planos como inclinados para estudar a evolução do ângulo de inclinação entre os momentos angular do buraco negro e do disco de acresção assim como o ângulo de torção que está associado com a precessão do disco. Encontramos que quando o disco de acresção e o buraco negro rotacionam no mesmo sentido, o ângulo de inclinação entre os momentos angular apresentou um comportamento oscilatório na parte interna do disco e permaneceu constante na parte externa em acordo com as previsões teóricas. Já quando o buraco negro rotacina no sentido oposto ao disco de acresção, encontramos pela primeira vez numa simulação GRMHD evidências de alinhamento, ocorrendo um alinhamento de 10\\% do angulo entre os momentos angulares do disco e buraco negro. Além disso, comprovamos pela primeira vez numa simulação GRMHD a não isotropia do stress. Utilizando um modelo semi-analítico, comparamos os resultados de nossas simulações com este modelo, utilizando os dados da simulações de disco plano como entrada e obitivemos os mesmos comportamentos das simulações tanto no caso prógrado quanto no caso retrógrado mostrando que o alinhamento é devido ao regime onda.
In this work we studied the dynamics of twisted thin and thick disks to better understand how the warp propagates in these discs. In the case of thin discs, we studied the physics of the Bardeen-Petterson effect and we applied this model to explain the shape of the jet in both parsec and kilo-parsec scales of the galaxy NGC 1275. We found that the Bardeen-Petterson effect could explain very well the shape of the jet and with that we derived the disc parameters such as its radius, the values of the kinematic azimutal and vertical viscosities, the power-law of the surface density and the spin of the black hole. To better understand the physics of such discs, we have performed GRMHD simulations of moderatelly thin tilted disks to study the evolution of the tilt angle between the angular momentum of the accretion disk and black hole and also the twist angle which is associated with the precession of the disc. We found that when the accretion disc and the black hole are rotating in the same direction, the tilt angle showed an oscillatory behavior in the inner parts of the disk while in the outer parts it remained constant in agreement with the theorical modelos. However, when both rotate in the opposite direction, we found for the very first time in a GRMHD simulation, evidences of alignment of 10\\% of the tilt angle. Besides that, we prove for the first time in a GRMHD simulation that the stress is far from being isotropic. Using a semi-analitic model, we compared the results of our simulations with this model, using the datas of the untilted simulations as inputs and we found the same behaviors found in the simulations even in prograde case as in the retrograde case showing that the alignment is due to bending waves.

O objeto de estudo desta dissertação é o efeito de criação de partículas pela curvatura sob o escopo de uma teoria de espalhamento, discutindo quando que a interpretação a partir de uma matriz S é tangível e obtendo sua expressão nesses casos. O capítulo de introdução aborda superficialmente conceitos de relatividade geral e de teoria quântica de campos em espaços planos e curvos, necessários para a construção da matriz S. O conteúdo deste capítulo segue as apresentações feitas por Wald, Parker e Birrell em geral, tendo como guia as obras de Bar, Wald e Hawking no que se trata especificamente de relatividade geral, e de Penrose e Rindler no que se trata da estrutura espinorial. A construção da matriz S se dá no capítulo 2, tendo como guia o trabalho de Wald. O capítulo 3 apresenta exemplos que permitem a contextualização da criação de partículas em casos específicos de espaços-tempos em expansão. Este estudo nos permite verificar que as condições que precisam ser satisfeitas em um espaço-tempo globalmente hiperbólico e assintoticamente estacionário para que a formulação da matriz S possa ser feita são que as teorias no passado e futuro distantes devem ser unitariamente equivalentes, que a relação entre as regiões se dá através de transformações de Bogolyubov dadas por operadores limitados definidos em toda a parte e que tais operadores satisfaçam a condição de Hilbert-Schmidt. Nestes casos obtemos uma expressão para a matriz $S$ que descreve a criação de partículas pela curvatura do espaço-tempo para o campo de Klein-Gordon e de Dirac, além de outras relações úteis, como número médio de partículas criadas e probabilidade de se encontrar partículas em determinado modo, o que permite uma analogia com a radiação de corpo negro, passo fundamental para se entender fenômenos de grande interesse na física, como a radiação de Hawking e a criação de partículas no período inflacionário.
This master\'s thesis deals with the effect of particle creation by the curvature of space-time according to the point of view of scattering theory, discussing when such interpretation is possible by means of an S-matrix and obtaining its expression in those cases. The first chapter treats, superficially, some concepts of general relativity and quantum field theory in plane and curved space-times that are imperative to understand the construction of the S-matrix. The subject of this chapter is covered in the work of Wald, Parker, and Birrell, and follows closely the work of Bar, Wald and Hawking, when treats concepts specifically from general relativity, and from Penrose and Rindler, when talking about the spinor structure of space-time. The construction of the S-matrix is made in the second chapter, along the lines of the work of Wald. The third chapter presents some examples that bring some light on the creation of particles in specific cases of expanding space-times. This study let us verify that an S-matrix formulation is tenable, on globally hyperbolic asymptotic stationary curved space-times, if both quantum theories in the distant past and distant future are unitary equivalent, the relation of both regions is made by Bogolyubov transformations by means of everywhere defined bounded operators and that those operators satisfy the Hilbert-Schmidt condition. In those cases we derive the expression of the S-matrix for the Klein-Gordon and Dirac fields. Also we obtain the number of particles created and the probability of find particles in a particular mode, with let one make an analogy with the black body radiation, which is a fundamental step in the direction of understanding interesting phenomena in quantum field theory in curved space-times, like the Hawking radiation and particle creation in the early universe.

Há duas brechas quânticas nos Teoremas da Singularidade em Relatividade Geral: violações das condições clássicas de energia e flutuações quânticas da geometria do espaço-tempo. Nesta dissertação, estudamos a primeira brecha e abordamos os Teoremas da Singularidade através da condição de energia. Revisamos a abordagem algébrica de Teoria Quântica de Campos para o campo de Klein-Gordon e, neste formalismo, revisamos a derivação de uma desigualdade quântica de energia para os estados de Hadamard em espaços-tempos globalmente hiperbólicos. Apesar das desigualdades quânticas de energia não poderem ser aplicadas diretamente nos Teoremas de Singularidade, mostramos que generalizações dos Teoremas de Hawking e Penrose são provadas considerando condições de energia enfraquecidas inspiradas por elas. Assim sendo, os Teoremas de Singularidade continuam valendo se considerarmos efeitos quânticos sutis. A questão de se efeitos de interação ou efeitos de ``backreaction\'\' poderiam quebrá-los ainda está em aberto; há razões para se esperar ambas as respostas.
There are two quantum loopholes in the Singularity Theorems of General Relativity: violations of the classical energy conditions and quantum fluctuations of the spacetime geometry. In this dissertation, we study the first loophole and approach Singularity Theorems through the energy condition. We review the algebraic approach of Quantum Field Theory for the Klein-Gordon field and, within it, we review the derivation of a quantum energy inequality for Hadamard states on globally hyperbolic spacetimes. However quantum energy inequalities cannot be directly applied to Singularity Theorems, we show that generalized Hawking and Penrose Theorems are proven considering weakened energy conditions inspired by them. Hence, Singularity Theorems do hold under subtle quantum effects. The question of whether interaction or backreaction effects could break them is still open; there are reasons to expect both answers.

This thesis presents work around 3 themes: dark energy, gravitational waves and Bayesian inference. Both dark energy and gravitational wave physics are not yet well constrained. They present interesting challenges for Bayesian inference, which attempts to quantify our knowledge of the universe given our astrophysical data. A dark energy equation of state reconstruction analysis finds that the data favours the vacuum dark energy equation of state $w {=} -1$ model. Deviations from vacuum dark energy are shown to favour the super-negative ‘phantom’ dark energy regime of $w {< } -1$, but at low statistical significance. The constraining power of various datasets is quantified, finding that data constraints peak around redshift $z = 0.2$ due to baryonic acoustic oscillation and supernovae data constraints, whilst cosmic microwave background radiation and Lyman-$\alpha$ forest constraints are less significant. Specific models with a conformal time symmetry in the Friedmann equation and with an additional dark energy component are tested and shown to be competitive to the vacuum dark energy model by Bayesian model selection analysis: that they are not ruled out is believed to be largely due to poor data quality for deciding between existing models. Recent detections of gravitational waves by the LIGO collaboration enable the first gravitational wave tests of general relativity. An existing test in the literature is used and sped up significantly by a novel method developed in this thesis. The test computes posterior odds ratios, and the new method is shown to compute these accurately and efficiently. Compared to computing evidences, the method presented provides an approximate 100 times reduction in the number of likelihood calculations required to compute evidences at a given accuracy. Further testing may identify a significant advance in Bayesian model selection using nested sampling, as the method is completely general and straightforward to implement. We note that efficiency gains are not guaranteed and may be problem specific: further research is needed.

Elaboramos um estudo detalhado de alguns aspectos d(e uma versão d)a correspondência AdS/CFT, conjeturada por Maldacena e Witten, entre teorias quânticas de campo num fundo gravitacional dado por um espaço-tempo assintoticamente anti-de Sitter (AAdS), e teorias quânticas de campos conformalmente covariantes no infinito conforme (no sentido de Penrose) deste espaço-tempo, aspectos estes: (a) independentes d(o par d)e modelos específicos em Teoria Quântica de Campos, e (b) suscetíveis a uma reformulação em moldes matematicamente rigorosos. Adotamos como ponto de partida o teorema demonstrado por Rehren no contexto da Física Quântica Local (também conhecida como Teoria Quântica de Campos Algébrica) em espaços-tempos anti-de Sitter (AdS), denominado holografia algébrica ou dualidade de Rehren. O corpo do presente trabalho consiste em estender o resultado de Rehren para uma classe razoavelmente geral de espaços-tempos AAdS d-dimensionais (d>3), escrutinar como as propriedades desta extensão são enfraquecidas e/ou modificadas em relação ao espaço-tempo AdS, e como efeitos gravitacionais não-triviais se manifestam na teoria quântica no infinito conforme. Dentre os resultados obtidos, citamos: condições razoavelmente gerais sobre geodésicas nulas no interior (cuja plausibilidade justificamos por meio de resultados de rigidez geométrica) não só garantem que a nossa generalização é geometricamente consistente com causalidade, como também permite uma reconstrução ``holográfica\'\' da topologia do interior na ausência de horizontes e singularidades; a implementação das simetrias conformes na fronteira, que associamos explicitamente a uma família de isometrias assintóticas do interior construída de maneira intrínseca, ocorre num caráter puramente assintótico e é atingida dinamicamente por um processo de retorno ao equilíbrio, mediante condições de contorno adequadas no infinito; efeitos gravitacionais podem eventualmente causar obstruções à reconstrução da teoria quântica no interior, ou por torná-la trivial em regiões suficientemente pequenas ou devido à existência de múltiplos vácuos inequivalentes, que por sua vez levam à existência de excitações solitônicas localizadas ao redor de paredes de domínio no interior, similares a D-branas. As demonstrações fazem uso extensivo de geometria Lorentziana global. A linguagem empregada para as teorias quânticas relevantes para nossa generalização da dualidade de Rehren segue a formulação funtorial de Brunetti, Fredenhagen e Verch para a Física Quântica Local, estendida posteriormente por Sommer para incorporar condições de contorno.
We elaborate a detailed study of certain aspects of (a version of) the AdS/CFT correspondence, conjectured by Maldacena and Witten, between quantum field theories in a gravitational background given by an asymptotically anti-de Sitter (AAdS) spacetime, and conformally covariant quantum field theories in the latter\'s conformal infinity (in the sense of Penrose), aspects such that: (a) are independent from (the pair of) specific models in Quantum Field Theory, and (b) susceptible to a recast in a mathematically rigorous mould. We adopt as a starting point the theorem demonstrated by Rehren in the context of Local Quantum Physics (also known as Algebraic Quantum Field Theory) in anti-de Sitter (AdS) spacetimes, called algebraic holography or Rehren duality. The main body of the present work consists in extending Rehren\'s result to a reasonably general class of d-dimensional AAdS spacetimes (d>3), scrutinizing how the properties of such an extension are weakened and/or modified as compared to AdS spacetime, and probing how non-trivial gravitational effects manifest themselves in the conformal infinity\'s quantum theory. Among the obtained results, we quote: not only does the imposition of reasonably general conditions on bulk null geodesics (whose plausibility we justify through geometrical rigidity techniques) guarantee that our generalization is geometrically consistent with causality, but it also allows a ``holographic\'\' reconstruction of the bulk topology in the absence of horizons and singularities; the implementation of conformal symmetries in the boundary, which we explicitly associate to an intrinsically constructed family of bulk asymptotic isometries, have a purely asymptotic character and is dynamically attained through a process of return to equilibrium, given suitable boundary conditions at infinity; gravitational effects may cause obstructions to the reconstruction of the bulk quantum theory, either by making the latter trivial in sufficiently small regions or due to the existence of multiple inequivalent vacua, which on their turn lead to the existence of solitonic excitations localized around domain walls, similar to D-branes. The proofs make extensive use of global Lorentzian geometry. The language employed for the quantum theories relevant for our generalization of Rehren duality follows the functorial formulation of Local Quantum Physics due to Brunetti, Fredenhagen and Verch, extended afterwards by Sommer in order to incorporate boundary conditions. (An English translation of the full text can be found at arXiv:0712.0401)

A presente dissertação tem como objeto de estudo sistemas da física da matéria condensada que sejam capazes de simular sistemas gravitacionais, tais como buracos negros e universos em expansão, onde processos quânticos tomam parte. Neste estudo nos debruçamos principalmente sobre o modelo do fluido e condensados de Bose-Einstein. No modelo do fluido exploramos a geometria efetiva que surge e os problemas de back-reaction e dos modos trans-planckianos de campos quânticos. No modelo baseado em condensados exploramos sua faceta cosmológica e a possibilidade de campos maciços. Além destes dois modelos de grande relevância na literatura, ainda expomos os análogos em cordas elásticas e os baseados em ondas na superfícies de fluidos e uma análise geral baseada no formalismo lagrangeano para campos.
This dissertation has as object of study systems of condensate-matter physics which can simulate gravitational systems like black holes and expanding universes where quantum processes take place. In this study we lay attention mainly on the fluid model and on Bose-Einstein-condensate-based models. In the fluid model we explore the features of the emergent geometry and other problems like the back-reaction and the trans-planckian modes of quantum fields. In the condensate-based models we explore their cosmological aspects and the possibility for massive fields. Moreover, we shall present two other models, the elastic string and the surface-wave-based models in fluids, and a very general analysis based on the Lagrangean formalism for fields.

The work presented in this thesis is devoted to the study of geodesic motion in the context of General Relativity. The motion of a single test particle is governed by the geodesic equations of the given space-time, nevertheless one can be interested in the collective behavior of a family (congruence) of test particles, whose dynamics is controlled by the Raychaudhuri equations. In this thesis, both the aspects have been considered, with great interest in the latter issue. Geometric quantities appear in these evolution equations, therefore, it goes without saying that the features of a given space-time must necessarily arise. In this way, through the study of these quantities, one is able to analyze the given space-time. In the first part of this dissertation, we study the relation between geodesic motion and gravity. In fact, the geodesic equations are a useful tool for detecting a gravitational field. While, in the second part, after the derivation of Raychaudhuri equations, we focus on their applications to cosmology. Using these equations, as we mentioned above, one can show how geometric quantities linked to the given space-time, like expansion, shear and twist parameters govern the focusing or de-focusing of geodesic congruences. Physical requirements on matter stress-energy (i.e., positivity of energy density in any frame of reference), lead to the various energy conditions, which must hold, at least in a classical context. Therefore, under these suitable conditions, the focusing of a geodesics "bundle", in the FLRW metric, bring us to the idea of an initial (big bang) singularity in the model of a homogeneous isotropic universe. The geodesic focusing theorem derived from both, the Raychaudhuri equations and the energy conditions acts as an important tool in understanding the Hawking-Penrose singularity theorems.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009.
Title from title screen (site viewed June 26, 2009). PDF text: x, 153 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 9 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3350442. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

General Relativity predicts that gravitational radiation is purely tensor polarized and thus, gravitational waves are composed of linear combinations of two transverse polarization modes, referred to as plus (+) and cross (×) tensor modes. However, alternate gravitational theories predict the existence of up to four additional vector and scalar longitudinal GW polarization modes.

In this thesis, we develop a test of the gravitational wave (GW) polarization prediction of general relativity by searching for small admixtures of vector and/or scalar polarization components in transient GWs from binary black hole mergers. We use a network of five non-co-oriented GW detectors available in the near future, Bayesian inference parameter estimation, and nested sampling to quantify the detection sensitivity for such non-tensor GW polarization components.