English

Nonequilibrium quantum dynamics of phase transitions in an expanding universe

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology 2007-05-23 v2

Abstract

I summarize the derivation of a set of Feynman rules appropriate for the perturbative description of the nonequilibrium dynamics of the symmetry-breaking phase transition in λϕ4\lambda\phi^4 theory in a Robertson-Walker universe. The approximation scheme I develop provides for a treatment of dissipative effects which are essential to an adequate description of the nonequilibrium state. It also provides for the emergence from an initially symmetric state of a final state exhibiting the properties of spontaneous symmetry breaking without the introduction by hand of any explicit symmetry breaking.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.hep-ph/9809469,
  title  = {Nonequilibrium quantum dynamics of phase transitions in an expanding universe},
  author = {Ian D Lawrie},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-ph/9809469},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

7pages, using RevTeX, no figures. Contribution to 5th International Workshop on Thermal Field Theories (Regensburg, August 1998). A few explanatory remarks added