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Title: Out of equilibrium dynamics of quench-induced spontaneous symmetry breaking and topological defect formation

Abstract

We study the full out-of-thermal-equilibrium dynamics of a relativistic classical scalar field through spontaneous symmetry breaking. In these circumstances we determine the evolution of the ensemble averages of the correlation length and topological defect densities. This clarifies many aspects of the nonperturbative dynamics of fields in symmetry-breaking phase transitions and allows us to comment on a quantitative basis on the canonical pictures for topological defect formation and evolution. We also compare these results to those obtained from the field evolution in the Hartree approximation or using the linearized theory. By doing so we conclude about the regimes of validity of these approximations. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH (United Kingdom)
  2. The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BZ (United Kingdom)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
439126
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review, D
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 55; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: PBD: Jan 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
66 PHYSICS; THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM; SYMMETRY BREAKING; SCALAR FIELDS; DYNAMICS; TOPOLOGY; DEFECTS; DENSITY; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; HARTREE-FOCK METHOD

Citation Formats

Antunes, N D, and Bettencourt, L M. Out of equilibrium dynamics of quench-induced spontaneous symmetry breaking and topological defect formation. United States: N. p., 1997. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.55.925.
Antunes, N D, & Bettencourt, L M. Out of equilibrium dynamics of quench-induced spontaneous symmetry breaking and topological defect formation. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.55.925
Antunes, N D, and Bettencourt, L M. 1997. "Out of equilibrium dynamics of quench-induced spontaneous symmetry breaking and topological defect formation". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.55.925.
@article{osti_439126,
title = {Out of equilibrium dynamics of quench-induced spontaneous symmetry breaking and topological defect formation},
author = {Antunes, N D and Bettencourt, L M},
abstractNote = {We study the full out-of-thermal-equilibrium dynamics of a relativistic classical scalar field through spontaneous symmetry breaking. In these circumstances we determine the evolution of the ensemble averages of the correlation length and topological defect densities. This clarifies many aspects of the nonperturbative dynamics of fields in symmetry-breaking phase transitions and allows us to comment on a quantitative basis on the canonical pictures for topological defect formation and evolution. We also compare these results to those obtained from the field evolution in the Hartree approximation or using the linearized theory. By doing so we conclude about the regimes of validity of these approximations. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevD.55.925},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/439126}, journal = {Physical Review, D},
number = 2,
volume = 55,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}