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Title: Quantum field theory methods and inflationary universe models

Abstract

This paper reviews the theory of inflationary universe models, giving particular emphasis to the question of origin and growth of energy-density fluctuations in these new cosmologies. The first four sections constitute a pedagogical introduction to some of the important quantum field theory methods used in inflationary universe scenarios: calculation of the effective potential, finite-temperature quantum field theory, analysis of the decay of a metastable quantum state, and free field theory in curved space-time.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
OSTI Identifier:
6249298
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Rev. Mod. Phys.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 57:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; COSMOLOGICAL MODELS; QUANTUM FIELD THEORY; TEMPERATURE EFFECTS; UNIVERSE; ENERGY DENSITY; DECAY; FLUCTUATIONS; FUNCTIONALS; GAUGE INVARIANCE; METASTABLE STATES; REVIEWS; SPACE-TIME; VACUUM STATES; DOCUMENT TYPES; ENERGY LEVELS; EXCITED STATES; FIELD THEORIES; FUNCTIONS; INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; VARIATIONS; 640106* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmology; 645400 - High Energy Physics- Field Theory

Citation Formats

Brandenberger, R H. Quantum field theory methods and inflationary universe models. United States: N. p., 1985. Web. doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.57.1.
Brandenberger, R H. Quantum field theory methods and inflationary universe models. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.57.1
Brandenberger, R H. 1985. "Quantum field theory methods and inflationary universe models". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.57.1.
@article{osti_6249298,
title = {Quantum field theory methods and inflationary universe models},
author = {Brandenberger, R H},
abstractNote = {This paper reviews the theory of inflationary universe models, giving particular emphasis to the question of origin and growth of energy-density fluctuations in these new cosmologies. The first four sections constitute a pedagogical introduction to some of the important quantum field theory methods used in inflationary universe scenarios: calculation of the effective potential, finite-temperature quantum field theory, analysis of the decay of a metastable quantum state, and free field theory in curved space-time.},
doi = {10.1103/RevModPhys.57.1},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6249298}, journal = {Rev. Mod. Phys.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 57:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}