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Title: Finite temperature scalar field theory in the early universe

Abstract

The authors study a scalar Higgs field in an expanding Robertson-Walker geometry, using the real time formulation of Semenoff and Weiss. It is shown that the density matrix associated with the Hamiltonian at a sharp time describes a state for which perturbation theory is not renormalizable and an alternative, renormalizable characterization of thermal equilibrium is given. They calculate the thermal quantum fluctuations surrounding a classical field and discuss the characteristic time scales occurring in the evolution of a scalar field from an initial radiation dominated phase of thermal equilibrium to an unstable, inflationary de Sitter phase.

Authors:
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Bern (Switzerland)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7206146
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Annals of Physics (New York); (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 205:1; Journal ID: ISSN 0003-4916
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; COSMOLOGY; QUANTUM FIELD THEORY; SCALAR FIELDS; DENSITY MATRIX; GEOMETRY; HAMILTONIANS; LTE; METRICS; PERTURBATION THEORY; RENORMALIZATION; SPACE-TIME; TIME DEPENDENCE; EQUILIBRIUM; FIELD THEORIES; MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS; MATHEMATICS; MATRICES; QUANTUM OPERATORS; 662110* - General Theory of Particles & Fields- Theory of Fields & Strings- (1992-)

Citation Formats

Leutwyler, H, and Mallik, S. Finite temperature scalar field theory in the early universe. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.1016/0003-4916(91)90235-Z.
Leutwyler, H, & Mallik, S. Finite temperature scalar field theory in the early universe. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-4916(91)90235-Z
Leutwyler, H, and Mallik, S. 1991. "Finite temperature scalar field theory in the early universe". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-4916(91)90235-Z.
@article{osti_7206146,
title = {Finite temperature scalar field theory in the early universe},
author = {Leutwyler, H and Mallik, S},
abstractNote = {The authors study a scalar Higgs field in an expanding Robertson-Walker geometry, using the real time formulation of Semenoff and Weiss. It is shown that the density matrix associated with the Hamiltonian at a sharp time describes a state for which perturbation theory is not renormalizable and an alternative, renormalizable characterization of thermal equilibrium is given. They calculate the thermal quantum fluctuations surrounding a classical field and discuss the characteristic time scales occurring in the evolution of a scalar field from an initial radiation dominated phase of thermal equilibrium to an unstable, inflationary de Sitter phase.},
doi = {10.1016/0003-4916(91)90235-Z},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7206146}, journal = {Annals of Physics (New York); (United States)},
issn = {0003-4916},
number = ,
volume = 205:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}