Níck

theoretical physicist

About Me

This is my brief CV (click here for a more detailed version). Check the links at the bottom of the website for other information!

Visiting PhD Candidate

Aug 2026 – Aug 2027

Supervisor: Guilherme L. Pimentel

Institution: Theoretical Physics Group, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

Funding:

São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil. Grant 26/02509-8.

Doctor in Physics

Sep 2023 – Ongoing

Advisor: André G. S. Landulfo

Institution: Graduate Program in Physics, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil

Funding:

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento do Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES), Brazil. Finance Code 001.
São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil. Grant 25/05161-0.

Main results:

showed how linear acoustics admits a memory effect, asymptotic symmetries, and an infrared triangle (2512.15796)
introduced the notion of asymptotic (conformal) Killing horizons to give a generalized definition of asymptotic symmetry groups that can reproduce both the BMS and DMP groups (Phys. Rev. D 112.6, 065017 (2025) and Eur. Phys. J. C 86.5, 507 (2026))
showed that barotropic, spherically-symmetric stars with negative mass are unstable in general relativity (Phys. Rev. D 111.4, 044027 (2025))

Related publications:

Níckolas de Aguiar Alves. “The unexpected effectiveness of the Picard maneuver: Seeing three images of the same superluminal spaceship”. Am. J. Phys. (2026). [Accepted manuscript].
Níckolas de Aguiar Alves. “Physics as a branch of poetry”. Am. J. Phys. 94, 507 (2026).
Níckolas de Aguiar Alves and André G. S. Landulfo. “Sound as a gauge theory and its infrared triangle”. arXiv: 2512.15796 [hep-th]. [INSPIRE]. Pre-published.
Níckolas de Aguiar Alves. “Lectures on the Bondi–Metzner–Sachs group and related topics in infrared physics”. Eur. Phys. J. C 86.5, 507 (2026). arXiv: 2504.12521 [gr-qc]. [INSPIRE].
Caio César Rodrigues Evangelista and Níckolas de Aguiar Alves. “Using thermodynamics to learn gravitational wave physics”. Eur. J. Phys. 47.2, 025604 (2026). arXiv: 2602.21261 [gr-qc]. [INSPIRE].
Níckolas de Aguiar Alves and André G. S. Landulfo. “Null infinity as a Killing horizon”. Phys. Rev. D 112.6, 065017 (2025). arXiv: 2504.12514 [gr-qc]. [INSPIRE].
Níckolas de Aguiar Alves and Bruno Arderucio Costa. “The Measure of a Mass”. arXiv: 2503.18963 [gr-qc]. [INSPIRE]. Pre-published.
Níckolas de Aguiar Alves, André G. S. Landulfo, and Bruno Arderucio Costa. “Positive mass in general relativity without energy conditions”. Phys. Rev. D 111.4, 044027 (2025). arXiv: 2408.00154 [gr-qc]. [INSPIRE].
Níckolas de Aguiar Alves. “Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime: An Introduction”. 2023. [INSPIRE]. Unpublished.

Master in Physics

Feb 2021 – Apr 2023

Advisor: André G. S. Landulfo

Institution: Graduate Program in Physics, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil

Funding:

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento do Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES), Brazil. Finance Code 001.
São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil. Grant 21/07372-7.

Main results:

computed the functional renormalization group flow for an inertial Unruh–DeWitt detector in Minkowski spacetime (2305.17453 and work to appear)

Related publications:

Níckolas de Aguiar Alves. “Nonperturbative Aspects of Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime”. MSc thesis. Santo André, Brazil: Federal University of ABC, 2023. arXiv: 2305.17453 [gr-qc]. [INSPIRE].

Bachelor in Physics

Feb 2017 – Dec 2020

Advisor: João C. A. Barata

Institution: Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Funding:

São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil. Grant 19/12158-4.