Quantum Field Theoretic Description of Matter in the Universe
Abstract
Quantum field theory at finite temperature and density can be used for describing the physics of relativistic plasmas. Such systems are frequently encountered in astrophysical situations, such as the early Universe, Supernova explosions, and the interior of neutron stars. After a brief introduction to thermal field theory the usefulness of this approach in astrophysics will be exemplified in three different cases. First the interaction of neutrinos within a Supernova plasma will be discussed. Then the possible presence of quark matter in a neutron star core and finally the interaction of light with the Cosmic Microwave Background will be considered.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0104078,
title = {Quantum Field Theoretic Description of Matter in the Universe},
author = {Markus H. Thoma},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0104078},
year = {2014}
}
Comments
7 pages, 9 figures, to be published in the Proceedings of the ISSI Workshop "Matter in the Universe" (Bern, March 19-23, 2001), misprints corrected