Exploring the Gauge/Gravity Correspondence

This book focuses on the study of different aspectsof the AdS/CFT correspondence the celebrated conjecture in stringtheory that relates gauge and gravity theories. It begins with adetailed review of the correspondence with the main body of work beingsplit into two chapters. The first chapter concerns the evaluationof correlation functions of BPS operators in the AdS/CFTcorrespondence as these are useful to make indirect tests of the conjectureand to uncover dynamical features pertaining to the theories in thecorrespondence. In particular we look at four-point functions in AdSsupergravity and their gauge theory interpretation. The secondchapter has to do with the application of duality ideas in black holephysics with emphasis on small black holes. We focus on thefundamental string small black hole and give arguments supporting itsstudy via its CFT dual. The last chapter of the book summarises the content and suggests some interesting directions thatcould be pursued in the future.