Prof Pau Figueras
Professor of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Head of The Centre for Geometry, Analysis and Gravitation
School of Mathematical Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
General Relativity, Black Holes, Numerical Relativity, Gravitational Waves, Gravitational Aspects of String Theory, Holography
Interests
My research is focused on general relativity broadly understood, with applications rangingfrom astrophysics, such as computing theoretical gravitational waveforms relevant for gravitational
wave observations, to understanding the fundamental nature of gravity per se. In this context, I study black holes and their properties in higher dimensions and/or asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes in applications relevant for string theory and holography. In my research I use a combination of mathematical techniques and numerical relativity to solve for the dynamics of black holes in general relativity and alternative theories of gravity.
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Geometry, Analysis and Gravitation
2024
Bea Y and Figueras P (2024). Field redefinitions and evolutions in relativistic Navier-Stokes. Journal of High Energy Physics, Springer Nature vol. 2024 (11) 19-11-2024
Saló LA, Brady SE, Clough K, Doneva D, Evstafyeva T, Figueras P, França T, Rossi L and Yao S (2024). GRFolres: A code for modified gravity simulations in strong gravity. The Journal of Open Source Software, The Open Journal vol. 9 (98) 01-06-2024
Sun R, Balabanova A, Bajada CJ, Liu Y, Kriuchok M, Voolma S-R, Đurić M, Mayer C-H, Constantinou M, Chichua M, Li C, Foster-Estwick A, Borg K, Hill C, Kaushal R, Diwan K, Vitale V, Engels T, Aminudin R, Ursu I, et al. (2024). Emotional Experiences and Psychological Well-Being in 51 Countries During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Emotion, American Psychological Association (APA) vol. 24 (2), 397-411. 01-03-2024
2023
Brady SE, Saló LA, Clough K, Figueras P and Annamalai PS (2023). Solving the initial conditions problem for modified gravity theories. Physical Review D, American Physical Society (APS) vol. 108 (10) 13-11-2023
Aresté Saló L, Clough K and Figueras P (2023). Puncture gauge formulation for Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity and four-derivative scalar-tensor theories in d+1 spacetime dimensions. Physical Review D, American Physical Society vol. 108 (8) 15-10-2023
Doneva DD, Saló LA, Clough K, Figueras P and Yazadjiev SS (2023). Testing the limits of scalar-Gauss-Bonnet gravity through nonlinear evolutions of spin-induced scalarization. Physical Review D, American Physical Society vol. 108 (8) 15-10-2023
Cayuso R, Figueras P, França T and Lehner L (2023). Self-Consistent Modeling of Gravitational Theories beyond General Relativity. Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society vol. 131 (11) 15-09-2023
Figueras P, França T, Gu C and Andrade T (2023). Endpoint of the Gregory-Laflamme instability of black strings revisited. Physical Review D, American Physical Society (APS) vol. 107 (4) 13-02-2023
2022
Saló LA, Clough K and Figueras P (2022). Well-Posedness of the Four-Derivative Scalar-Tensor Theory of Gravity in Singularity Avoiding Coordinates. Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society vol. 129 (26) 23-12-2022
Bantilan H, Bea Y and Figueras P (2022). Evolutions in first-order viscous hydrodynamics. Journal of High Energy Physics, Springer vol. 2022 (8) 30-08-2022
Radia M, Sperhake U, Drew A, Clough K, Figueras P, Lim EA, Ripley JL, Aurrekoetxea JC, França T and Helfer T (2022). Lessons for adaptive mesh refinement in numerical relativity. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 39 (13) 06-06-2022
Figueras P and França T (2022). Black hole binaries in cubic Horndeski theories. Physical Review D, American Physical Society vol. 105 (12) 02-06-2022
Adam A, Figueras P, Jacobson T and Wiseman T (2022). Rotating black holes in Einstein-aether theory. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 39 (12) 06-05-2022
Andrade T, Figueras P and Sperhake U (2022). Evidence for violations of Weak Cosmic Censorship in black hole collisions in higher dimensions. Journal of High Energy Physics, Springer Nature vol. 2022 (3) 01-03-2022
2021
Andrade T, Salo L, Aurrekoetxea J, Bamber J, Clough K, Croft R, de Jong E, Drew A, Duran A, Ferreira P, Figueras P, Finkel H, Frana T, Ge B-X, Gu C, Helfer T, Jäykkä J, Joana C, Kunesch M, Kornet K, et al. (2021). GRChombo: An adaptable numerical relativity code for fundamental physics. The Journal of Open Source Software vol. 6 (68), 3703-3703. 10-12-2021
Cardona B and Figueras P (2021). Critical lumpy black holes in AdSp×Sq. Journal of High Energy Physics, Springer Nature vol. 2021 (5) 01-05-2021
Bantilan H, Figueras P and Rossi L (2021). Cauchy evolution of asymptotically global AdS spacetimes with no symmetries. Physical Review D vol. 103 (8), 086006-086006. 09-04-2021
2020
Figueras P and França T (2020). Gravitational collapse in cubic Horndeski theories. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 37 (22) 20-10-2020
Barausse E, Berti E, Hertog T, Hughes SA, Jetzer P, Pani P, Sotiriou TP, Tamanini N, Witek H, Yagi K, Yunes N, Abdelsalhin T, Achucarro A, van Aelst K, Afshordi N, Akcay S, Annulli L, Arun KG, Ayuso I, Baibhav V, et al. (2020). Prospects for fundamental physics with LISA. General Relativity and Gravitation, Springer (part of Springer Nature) vol. 52 (8) 31-08-2020
Bantilan H, Figueras P and Mateos D (2020). Real-Time Dynamics of Plasma Balls from Holography. Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society vol. 124 (19) 12-05-2020
2015
Clough K, Figueras P, Finkel H, Kunesch M, Lim EA and Tunyasuvunakool S (2015). GRChombo: Numerical relativity with adaptive mesh refinement. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 32 (24) 04-12-2015
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Geometry, Analysis and GravitationAstronomy Research at Queen Mary 2023 - 2026Chris Clarkson, Richard Nelson, Timothy Clifton, William Sutherland, Edward Gillen, Karim Malik, Thomas Haworth, Sijme-Jan Paardekooper, Theresa Baker, David Mulryne, Philip Bull, Juan A. Valiente Kroon, Charalampos Markakis, Mohammad Mahdi Godazgar, Katy Clough, Pau Figueras and Arick Shao
£1,625,769 Science & Technology Research Council (STFC) (01-04-2023 - 30-09-2026)
Conference grant New Frontiers in Strong GravityPau Figueras
£6,300 Gravity Theory Trust (08-07-2024 - 07-08-2024)
Research Fellows Enhanced Research Expenses 2021 - Pau FiguerasPau Figueras
£135,992 Royal Society (01-07-2022 - 31-12-2023)
Gravitational waves from Holographic Neutron Stars - MSCA IF 2019 - CEckerPau Figueras
£179,947 EU Commission - Horizon 2020 (01-09-2021 - 31-08-2023)
New frontiers in numerical general relativity (Enhancement Award)Pau Figueras
£106,906 Royal Society (01-12-2017 - 30-09-2022)
NewNGR - New Frontiers in Numerical General ActivityPau Figueras
£890,602 EU European Commission - Other (31-08-2015 - 28-02-2021)