2007/12/31 by Gert Aarts, Anders Tranberg · 1 citation
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Classical mechanics #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Effective action #Field (mathematics) #Inflation (cosmology) #Inflaton #Mathematics #Physics #Propagator #Quantum #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #Quantum dynamics #Quantum electrodynamics #Quantum gravity #Quantum mechanics #Thermal #Thermal equilibrium #Thermal quantum field theory #Thermalisation #Thermodynamics #astro-ph #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.77.123521
published as Phys.Rev.D77:123521,2008 · 25 pages, 11 eps figures. v2: paper reorganized, title changed, conclusions unchanged, to appear in PRD
arxiv created 2008/06/13 · openalex publication_date 2008/06/16 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
A description of the transition from the inflationary epoch to radiation domination requires the understanding of quantum fields out of thermal equilibrium, particle creation and thermalization. This can be studied from first principles by solving a set of truncated real-time Schwinger-Dyson equations, written in terms of the mean field (inflaton) and the field propagators, derived from the two-particle irreducible effective action. We investigate some aspects of this problem by considering the dynamics of a slow-rolling mean field coupled to a second quantum field, using a \ensuremathφ2\ensuremathχ2 interaction. We focus on thermal effects. It is found that interactions lead to an earlier end of slow roll and that the evolution afterwards depends on details of the heatbath.