Raphael Hoult
- MSc (University of Victoria, 2020)
- BSc (University of Winnipeg, 2018)
Topic
Causal Theories of Relativistic Hydrodynamics
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Date & location
- Wednesday, August 13, 2025
- 9:00 A.M.
- Clearihue Building, Room B017
Examining Committee
Supervisory Committee
- Dr. Pavel Kovtun, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria (Supervisor)
- Dr. Adam Ritz, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UVic (Member)
- Dr. Boualem Khouider, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, UVic (Outside Member)
External Examiner
- Dr. Jácome Armas, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Amsterdam
Chair of Oral Examination
- Dr. Daler Rakhmatov, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UVic
Abstract
The first-order textbook formulations of relativistic viscous hydrodynamics are unstable and acausal. These shortcomings may be rectified by using effective theories which maintain stability and causality. In this dissertation, which is intended to also serve as an introduction to the field, causal theories of relativistic hydrodynamics are developed and explored. Conditions are obtained for a linearized analysis to predict the non-linear causality of a theory, and constraints are found on short-wavelength dispersion relations as a consequence of ensuring stability in all reference frames. First-order causal theories of hydrodynamics are extracted from kinetic theory and holography descriptions. Finally, causal theories describing charged plasmas (one-form magnetohydrodynamics), and describing superfluids are developed.