Higher rank Wilson loops from a matrix model

We compute the circular Wilson loop of N=4 SYM theory at large N in the rank k symmetric and antisymmetric tensor representations. Using a quadratic Hermitian matrix model we obtain expressions for all values of the 't Hooft coupling. At large and small couplings we give explicit formulae and reproduce supergravity results from both D3 and D5 branes within a systematic framework.Comment: 1+18 pages. 1 figure. Typos correcte

On the stability of naked singularities

We study the linearised stability of the nakedly singular negative mass Schwarzschild solution against gravitational perturbations. There is a one parameter family of possible boundary conditions at the singularity. We give a precise criterion for stability depending on the boundary condition. We show that one particular boundary condition is physically preferred and show that the spacetime is stable with this boundary condition.Comment: 20 pages. 5 figure

Universal scaling properties of extremal cohesive holographic phases

We show that strongly-coupled, translation-invariant holographic IR phases at finite density can be classified according to the scaling behaviour of the metric, the electric potential and the electric flux introducing four critical exponents, independently of the details of the setup. Solutions fall into two classes, depending on whether they break relativistic symmetry or not. The critical exponents determine key properties of these phases, like thermodynamic stability, the (ir)relevant deformations around them, the low-frequency scaling of the optical conductivity and the nature of the spectrum for electric perturbations. We also study the scaling behaviour of the electric flux through bulk minimal surfaces using the Hartnoll-Radicevic order parameter, and characterize the deviation from the Ryu-Takayanagi prescription in terms of the critical exponents.Comment: v4: corrected a typo in eqn (3.29), now (3.28). Conclusions unchange

Holography, Fractionalization and Magnetic Fields

Four dimensional gravity with a U(1) gauge field, coupled to various fields in asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetime, provides a rich arena for the holographic study of the strongly coupled (2+1)-dimensional dynamics of finite density matter charged under a global U(1). As a first step in furthering the study of the properties of fractionalized and partially fractionalized degrees of freedom in the strongly coupled theory, we construct electron star solutions at zero temperature in the presence of a background magnetic field. We work in Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory. In all cases we construct, the magnetic source is cloaked by an event horizon. A key ingredient of our solutions is our observation that starting with the standard Landau level structure for the density of states, the electron star limits reduce the charge density and energy density to that of the free fermion result. Using this result we construct three types of solution: One has a star in the infra-red with an electrically neutral horizon, another has a star that begins at an electrically charged event horizon, and another has the star begin a finite distance from an electrically charged horizon.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures. Submitted to Springer Lecture Notes: Strongly interacting matter in magnetic fields. v2: Updated references and adjusted some phrasing in the introductio

Hall conductivity from dyonic black holes

A class of strongly interacting 2+1 dimensional conformal field theories in a transverse magnetic field can be studied using the AdS/CFT duality. We compute zero momentum hydrodynamic response functions of maximally supersymmetric 2+1 dimensional SU(N) Yang-Mills theory at the conformal fixed point, in the large N limit. With background magnetic field B and electric charge density rho, the Hall conductivity is found to be rho/B. The result, anticipated on kinematic grounds in field theory, is obtained from perturbations of a four dimensional AdS black hole with both electric and magnetic charges.Comment: 1+13 pages. TT correlator corrected. Typos corrected and added ref

Cooper pairing near charged black holes

We show that a quartic contact interaction between charged fermions can lead to Cooper pairing and a superconducting instability in the background of a charged asymptotically Anti-de Sitter black hole. For a massless fermion we obtain the zero mode analytically and compute the dependence of the critical temperature T_c on the charge of the fermion. The instability we find occurs at charges above a critical value, where the fermion dispersion relation near the Fermi surface is linear. The critical temperature goes to zero as the marginal Fermi liquid is approached, together with the density of states at the Fermi surface. Besides the charge, the critical temperature is controlled by a four point function of a fermionic operator in the dual strongly coupled field theory.Comment: 1+33 pages, 4 figure

Quasinormal modes and Stability Analysis for 4-dimensional Lifshitz Black Hole

We study the Lifshitz black hole in 4-dimensions with dynamical exponent z=2 and we calculate analytically the quasinormal modes of scalar perturbations. These quasinormal modes allows to study the stability of the Lifshitz black hole and we have obtained that Lifshitz black hole is stable.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1205.058