IAS Seminar by Dr Dimitrios Giataganas, University of Athens

Large classes of theories in the strongly coupled regime are known to have universal properties. We show that these properties rely heavily on certain symmetries of the system, and when the symmetry is reduced the universality is lost. This is particularly evident in the transport coefficients, where for example the shear viscosity over entropy density ratio, can act as a direct measure of the reduction of the symmetries. On the other hand, new qualitative universalities arise which depend on the symmetry breaking. For example, the presence of anisotropy in strongly coupled systems acts as a catalyst on the confinement/deconfinement phase transitions reducing the critical temperature that takes place. I will describe the above issues without heavy technicalities to encourage further discussions.

The Seminar will take place on Zoom. To register please click here.