Transport and Hydrodynamics in Holography, Strange Metals and Graphene

Abstract

This dissertation provides an overview of what gauge-gravity duality, often called holography, has taught us about quantum condensed matter physics, with particular emphasis on the problem of thermoelectric transport. A comprehensive theory of transport in weakly disordered metals is subsequently developed using a variety of techniques, all of which precisely agree. The theory in its present form may be applied directly to realistic models of transport in strongly interacting strange metallic phases, and also serves as a point of direct contact between gauge-gravity duality and more traditional theories of condensed matter physics. Next, novel techniques are developed to demonstrate the absence of disorder-driven metal-insulator transitions in holographic metals in two spatial dimensions. Finally, experimental evidence is presented for hydrodynamic transport in charge neutral graphene, and new theories are developed to understanding the resulting data.