Holographic Quantum Critical Transport without Self-Duality
We describe general features of frequency-dependent charge transport near strongly interacting quantum critical points in 2+1 dimensions. The simplest description using the AdS/CFT correspondence leads to a self-dual Einstein-Maxwell theory on AdS{sub 4}, which fixes the conductivity at a frequency-independent self-dual value. We describe the general structure of higher-derivative corrections to the Einstein-Maxwell theory, and compute their implications for the frequency dependence of the quantum critical conductivity. We show that physical consistency conditions on the higher-derivative terms allow only a limited frequency dependence in the conductivity. The frequency dependence is amenable to a physical interpretation using transport of either particlelike or vortexlike excitations.

title: Bulk viscous LRS Bianchi-I Universe with variable G and decaying Λ
abstract: The present study deals with spatially homogeneous and totally anisotropic locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type I cosmological model with variable G and Λ in presence of imperfect fluid. To get the deterministic model of Universe, we assume that the expansion (θ) in the model is proportional to shear (σ). This condition leads to A=ℓBn, where A, B are metric potential. The cosmological constant Λ is found to be decreasing function of time and it approaches a small positive value at late time which is supported by recent Supernovae Ia (SN Ia) observations. Also it is evident that the distance modulus curve of derived model matches with observations perfectly.

title: Comments on holographic entanglement entropy and RG flows
abstract: A bstractUsing holographic entanglement entropy for strip geometry, we construct a candidate for a c-function in arbitrary dimensions. For holographic theories dual to Einstein gravity, this c-function is shown to decrease monotonically along RG flows. A sufficient condition required for this monotonic flow is that the stress tensor of the matter fields driving the holographic RG flow must satisfy the null energy condition over the holographic surface used to calculate the entanglement entropy. In the case where the bulk theory is described by Gauss-Bonnet gravity, the latter condition alone is not sufficient to establish the monotonic flow of the c-function. We also observe that for certain holographic RG flows, the entanglement entropy undergoes a ‘phase transition’ as the size of the system grows and as a result, evolution of the c-function may exhibit a discontinuous drop.

title: On phases of generic toric singularities
abstract: We systematically study the phases of generic toric singularities, using methods initiated in . These correspond to large volume limits of certain Gauged Linear Sigma Models. We show that complete information about the classical regimes of generic U(1)r GLSMs can be obtained by studying the GLSM Lagrangian, appropriately modified in the different phases of the theory. We use this to study some aspects of La,b,c spaces and their non-supersymmetric counterparts.

title: A New Class of Bianchi Type-I Cosmological Models in Scalar-Tensor Theory of Gravitation and Late Time Acceleration
abstract: A new class of a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-I cosmological models of the universe for perfect fluid distribution within the framework of scalar-tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Sáez and Ballester ( 1986) is investigated. To prevail the deterministic solutions we choose the different scale factors which yield time-dependent deceleration parameters (DP) representing models which generate a transition of the universe from the early decelerated phase to the recent accelerating phase. Three different physically viable models of the universe are obtained in which their anisotropic solutions may enter to some isotropic inflationary era. The modified Einstein’s field equations are solved exactly and the models are found to be in good concordance with recent observations. Some physical and geometric properties of the models are also discussed.

title: Quantum corrections to screening at strong coupling
abstract: We compute a certain class of corrections to (specific) screening lengths in strongly coupled non-abelian plasmas using the AdS/CFT correspondence. In this holographic framework, these corrections arise from various higher curvature interactions modifying the leading Einstein gravity action. The changes in the screening lengths are perturbative in inverse powers of the `t Hooft coupling or of the number of colors, as can be made precise in the context where the dual gauge theory is superconformal. We also compare the results of these holographic calculations to lattice results for the analogous screening lengths in QCD. In particular, we apply these results within the program of making quantitative comparisons between the strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma and holographic descriptions of conformal field theory.

title: Two-dimensional model with chiral condensates and Cooper pairs having a QCD-like phase structure
abstract: We generalize our previous model to an O(N) symmetric two-dimensional model which possesses chiral symmetry breaking ( condensate) and superconducting (Cooper pair condensates) phases at large N. At zero temperature and density, the model can be solved analytically in the large-N limit. We perform the renormalization explicitly and obtain a closed form expression of the effective potential. There exists a renormalization group invariant parameter {delta} that determines which of the ({delta}>0) or ({delta} {mu}{sub tc} () the phase transition from the low temperature chiral symmetry breaking phase to unbroken phase is first order (second order). For the range of {delta} in which the system mimics QCD, we expect the model to be useful for the investigation of dynamical aspects of nonequilibrium phase transitions, and to provide information relevant to the study of relativistic heavy ion collisions and the dense interiors of neutron stars.

title: Preheating in FRW Universes
abstract: The nonlinear time evolution of the quantum fields is studied in the O(N) model for large N in a radiation dominated FRW universe, with a view towards the phenomenon of explosive particle production due to either spinodal instabilities or parametric amplification, i.e. preheating. Quantum backreaction effects due to the produced particles are included consistently within the large N approximation. We find that preheating persists when the expansion is included, although the amount of particle production is reduced compared to the values found in Minkowski space. We also see that the behavior of the evolving zero mode is very different from that in Minkowski space, though the late time behavior in all cases is determined by a sum rule that implies the existence of Goldstone bosons in the final state.

title: Reheating the postinflationary universe
abstract: We consider the non-equilibrium evolution of the inflaton field coupled to both lighter scalars and fermions. The dissipational dynamics of this field is studied and found to be quite different than that believed in inflationary models. In particular, the damping time scale for the expectation value of the zero momentum mode of the inflaton can be much shorter than that given by the single particle decay rate when the inflaton amplitudes are large, as in chaotic inflation scenarios. We find that the reheating temperature may depart considerably from the usual estimates.

title: Dark Energy and Structure Formation
abstract: We study the gravitational dynamics of dark energy configurations. We report on the time evolution of the dark energy field configurations as well as the time evolution of the energy density to demonstrate the gravitational collapse of dark energy field configurations. We live in a Universe which is dominated by Dark Energy. According to current estimates about 75% of the Energy Density is in the form of Dark Energy. Thus when we consider gravitational dynamics and Structure Formation we expect Dark Energy to play an important role. The most promising candidate for dark energy is the energy density of fields in curved space-time. It therefore become a pressing need to understand the gravitational dynamics of dark energy field configurations. We develop and describe the formalism to study the gravitational collapse of fields given any general potential for the fields. We apply this formalism to models of dark energy motivated by particle physics considerations. We solve the resulting evolution equations which determine the time evolution of field configurations as well as the dynamics of space-time. Our results show that gravitational collapse of dark energy field configurations occurs and must be considered in any complete picture of our universe.