Analogue models in (1+2) and (1+3) dimensions

Abstract

The theory of General Relativity and the existence of black holes are supported by numerous astronomical observations. According to Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetimes, Hawking radiation is one of the phenomena associated with black holes. However, since the temperature of astrophysical black holes is extremely small (much smaller than the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation), observing Hawking radiation becomes impossible. An alternative is the creation of systems capable of reproducing the necessary conditions for the occurrence of the Hawking effect, thus allowing the observation of analogue Hawking radiation in terrestrial laboratories. Such systems, called analogue models of Gravity, also allow other phenomena typically associated with curved spacetimes to be tested in laboratory. In particular, we highlight the possibilities of observing the quasinormal decay of perturbed analogue black holes and superradiant scattering by rotating analogue black holes. The vast majority of theoretical analysis and experimental realizations of analogue models of Gravity involve (1+1)-dimensional configurations (that is, systems that effectively have only one spatial dimension). In order to change the paradigm, this doctoral project proposes a systematic study of Analogue Gravity in (1+2)- and (1+3)-dimensions. We will advance knowledge in this area by means of three main lines of investigation: the stability of quasinormal modes, superradiant scattering in non-axissymmetric systems, and stimulated particle emission. (AU)