Aplicaciones de la correspondencia AdS/CFT en el ámbito de la física de la materia condensada

En esta tesis se consideraron varios tópicos asociados a la aplicación de la correspondencia AdS/CFT a sistemas de materia condensada. En particular se estudiaron modelos holográficos de superconductores, metales extraños e inestabilidades fermiónicas que pueden presentar los mismos. El capı́tulo 1 es una introducción donde se exponen los objetivos y motivaciones para estudiar estos sistemas. En el capı́tulo 2 se resumen las ideas y conceptos fundamentales para entender la teorı́a de cuerdas y la correspondencia AdS/CFT . En el capı́tulo 3 se introducen conceptos básicos de la teorı́a de la Materia Condensada pertinentes a la Tesis. En primer lugar los superconductores, cuáles son los fenómenos fı́sicos detrás de ellos y cómo es el marco teórico-matemático para describirlos. Posteriormente se introducen los lı́quidos de Fermi, su descripción a través de la teorı́a de Landau, y la existencia de una fase denominada de metal extraño que experimentan los superconductores de alta temperatura, donde dicha teorı́a no es aplicable. En el capítulo 4 se introducen los modelos holográficos más básicos para describir superconductores, metales extraños y sistemas de electrones a potencial químico finito. En el capı́tulo 5 se presenta el análisis de un sistema del tipo gravedad-Yang-Mills-Higgs que modela holográficamente un superconductor de onda p/p + ip. En tal sistema se calculan varias propiedades fı́sicas de interés y se hace una comparación entre ellas. Se estudian además soluciones a temperatura y entropı́a nulas. En el capı́tulo 6 se analizan funciones espectrales de campos fermiónicos a temperatura finita en el fondo de un superconductor de onda p, teniendo en cuenta el efecto sobre la geometrı́a de los campos de calibre. En el capı́tulo 7 se estudia el cruce entre un lı́quido de Fermi y un metal extraño introduciendo una variable de dopaje desde el lado gravitatorio. Por último, en el capítulo 8 se generaliza el método de Pomeranchuk en un espacio-tiempo curvo específico, para poder estudiar inestabilidades de la superficie de Fermi de un sistema de electrones fuertemente acoplado que pueden dar lugar a fases nemáticas o esmécticas.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Holographic phase transitions from higgsed, non abelian charged black holes

We find solutions of a gravity-Yang-Mills-Higgs theory in four dimensions that represent asymptotic anti-de Sitter charged black holes with partial/full gauge symme-try breaking. We then apply the AdS/CFT correspondence to study the strong coupling regime of a 2 + 1 quantum field theory at temperature T and finite chemical potential, which undergoes transitions to phases exhibiting the condensation of a composite charged vector operator below a critical temperature Tc, presumably describing p + ip/p-wave su-perconductors. In the case of p + ip-wave superconductors the transitions are always of second order. But for p-wave superconductors we determine the existence of a critical value αTc of the gravitational coupling (for fixed Higgs v.e.v. parameter mW) beyond which the transitions become of first order. As a by-product, we show that the p-wave phase is energetically favored over the p + ip one, for any values of the parameters. We also find the ground state solutions corresponding to zero temperature. Such states are described by domain wall geometries that interpolate between AdST4 spaces with different light velocities, and for a given mW, they exist below a critical value of the coupling. The behavior of the order parameter as function of the gravitational coupling near the critical coupling suggests the presence of second order quantum phase transitions. We finally study the dependence of the solution on the Higgs coupling, and find the existence of a critical value beyond which no condensed solution is present.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Física La Plat

Fermionic spectral functions in backreacting p-wave superconductors at finite temperature

We investigate the spectral function of fermions in a p-wave superconducting state, at finite both temperature and gravitational coupling, using the AdS/CFT correspondence and extending previous research. We found that, for any coupling below a critical value, the system behaves as its zero temperature limit. By increasing the coupling, the “peak-dip-hump” structure that characterizes the spectral function at fixed momenta disappears. In the region where the normal/superconductor phase transition is first order, the presence of a non-zero order parameter is reflected in the absence of rotational symmetry in the fermionic spectral function at the critical temperature.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Física La Plat

Strange metal crossover in the doped holographic superconductor

In a recent paper, Kiritsis and Li presented a holographic model to study the competition between different orders at finite doping in holographic superconductors. In the present work, we introduce fermions into such model and study the fermionic spectral functions in the normal phase at zero and finite temperatures. Combining analytic and numerical methods, we found that there is a crossover from a strange metal with short lived excitations at small doping, into a Fermi liquid with well defined quasiparticles at large doping. The critical doping at which excitations becomes long lived increases with temperature. The emerging phase diagram is qualitatively similar to that of High Temperature Superconductors.Instituto de Física La Plat

Pomeranchuk instabilities in holographic metals

We develop a method to detect instabilities leading to nematic phases in strongly coupled metallic systems. We do so by adapting the well-known Pomeranchuk technique to a weakly coupled system of fermions in a curved asymptotically AdS bulk. The resulting unstable modes are interpreted as corresponding to instabilities on the dual strongly coupled holographic metal. We apply our technique to a relativistic 3 + 1- dimensional bulk with generic quartic fermionic couplings, and explore the phase diagram at zero temperature for finite values of the fermion mass and chemical potential, varying the couplings. We find a wide region of parameters where the system is stable, which is simply connected and localized around the origin of coupling space.Instituto de Física La Plat

Thermodynamics of the classical spin-ice model with nearest neighbour interactions using the Wang-Landau algorithm

In this article we study the classical nearest-neighbour spin-ice model (nnSI) by means of Monte Carlo simulations, using the Wang-Landau algorithm. The nnSI describes several of the salient features of the spin-ice materials. Despite its simplicity it exhibits a remarkably rich behaviour. The model has been studied using a variety of techniques, thus it serves as an ideal benchmark to test the capabilities of the Wang Landau algorithm in magnetically frustrated systems. We study in detail the residual entropy of the nnSI and, by introducing an applied magnetic field in two different crystallographic directions ([111] and [100]), we explore the physics of the kagome-ice phase, the transition to full polarisation, and the three dimensional Kasteleyn transition. In the latter case, we discuss how additional constraints can be added to the Hamiltonian, by taking into account a selective choice of states in the partition function and, then, show how this choice leads to the realization of the ideal Kasteleyn transition in the system.Instituto de Física de Líquidos y Sistemas BiológicosFacultad de Ciencias Exacta

Thermodynamics of the classical spin-ice model with nearest neighbour interactions using the Wang-Landau algorithm

In this article we study the classical nearest-neighbour spin-ice model (nnSI) by means of Monte Carlo simulations, using the Wang-Landau algorithm. The nnSI describes several of the salient features of the spin-ice materials. Despite its simplicity it exhibits a remarkably rich behaviour. The model has been studied using a variety of techniques, thus it serves as an ideal benchmark to test the capabilities of the Wang Landau algorithm in magnetically frustrated systems. We study in detail the residual entropy of the nnSI and, by introducing an applied magnetic field in two different crystallographic directions ([111] and [100]), we explore the physics of the kagome-ice phase, the transition to full polarisation, and the three dimensional Kasteleyn transition. In the latter case, we discuss how additional constraints can be added to the Hamiltonian, by taking into account a selective choice of states in the partition function and, then, show how this choice leads to the realization of the ideal Kasteleyn transition in the system.Instituto de Física de Líquidos y Sistemas BiológicosFacultad de Ciencias Exacta

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data