Wormholes and Goldstone bosons

Journal Article · Mon Jul 18 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.61.263· OSTI ID:7056470

Lee, K

The quantum theory of a complex scalar field coupled to gravity is considered. A formalism for the semiclassical approach in Euclidean time is developed and used to study wormhole physics. The conserved global charge plays an essential role. Wormhole physics turns on only after the symmetry is spontaneously broken. An effective self-interaction for Goldstone bosons due to wormholes and child universes is shown to be a cosine potential, whose vacuum energy will be reduced by the cosmic expansion. Some implications and questions are discussed.

• Research Organization: Theoretical Physics Group, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, P.O. Box 500, Batavia, Illinois 60510
• OSTI ID: 7056470
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 61:3; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

657003* -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOSONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EUCLIDEAN SPACE
FIELD THEORIES
GOLDSTONE BOSONS
GRAVITATION
INSTANTONS
MATHEMATICAL SPACE
MECHANICS
POSTULATED PARTICLES
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUANTUM GRAVITY
QUANTUM MECHANICS
QUASI PARTICLES
RIEMANN SPACE
SCALAR FIELDS
SPACE
SYMMETRY BREAKING