String Theory at the Horizon : Quantum Aspects of Black Holes and Cosmology

Abstract: String theory is a unified framework for general relativity and quantum mechanics, thus being a theory of quantum gravity. In this thesis we discuss various aspects of quantum gravity for particular systems, having in common the existence of horizons. The main motivation is that one major challenge in theoretical physics today is in trying to understanding how time dependent backgrounds, with its resulting horizons and space-like singularities, should be described in a controlled way. One such system of particular importance is our own universe.We begin by discussing the information puzzle in de Sitter space and consequences thereof. A typical time-scale is encountered, which we interpreted as setting the thermalization time for the system. Then the question of closed time-like curves is discussed in the combined setting where we have a rotating black hole in a Gödel-like universe. This gives a unified picture of what previously was considered as independent systems. The last three projects concerns $c=1$ matrix models and their applications. First in relation to the RR-charged two dimensional type 0A black hole. We calculate the ground state energy on both sides of the duality and find a perfect agreement. Finally, we relate the 0A model at self-dual radius to the topological string on the conifold. We find that an intriguing factorization of the theory previously observed for the topological string is also present in the 0A matrix model.