Title:
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Vacuum decay in quantum field theory
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Author:
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Calzetta, Esteban A., 1958-; Roura, Albert; Verdaguer Oms, Enric, 1950-
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Other authors:
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Universitat de Barcelona |
Abstract:
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We study the contribution to vacuum decay in field theory due to the interaction between the long- and short-wavelength modes of the field. The field model considered consists of a scalar field of mass M with a cubic term in the potential. The dynamics of the long-wavelength modes becomes diffusive in this interaction. The diffusive behavior is described by the reduced Wigner function that characterizes the state of the long-wavelength modes. This function is obtained from the whole Wigner function by integration of the degrees of freedom of the short-wavelength modes. The dynamical equation for the reduced Wigner function becomes a kind of Fokker-Planck equation which is solved with suitable boundary conditions enforcing an initial metastable vacuum state trapped in the potential well. As a result a finite activation rate is found, even at zero temperature, for the formation of true vacuum bubbles of size M-1. This effect makes a substantial contribution to the total decay rate. |
Subject(s):
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-Teoria quàntica de camps -Buit -Efecte túnel -Sistemes oberts -Quantum field theory -Vacuum -Tunneling (Physics) -Open systems (Physics) |
Rights:
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(c) The American Physical Society, 2001
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Document type:
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Article Article - Published version |
Published by:
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The American Physical Society
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