Growth of bubbles in cosmological phase transitions
- 1. Research Institute for Theoretical Physics, P.O. Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki (Finland)
- 2. Department of Theoretical Physics, P.O. Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki (Finland)
Description
We study how bubbles grow after the initial nucleation event in generic first-order cosmological phase transitions characterized by the values of the latent heat L, interface tension σ, and correlation length ξ, and driven by a scalar order parameter φ. Equations coupling φ(t,x) and the fluid variables v(t,x),T(t,x) and depending on a dissipative constant Γ are derived and solved numerically in the (1+1)-dimensional case starting from a slightly deformed critical bubble configuration φ(0,x). The parameters L, σ, ξ corresponding to QCD and electroweak phase transitions are chosen and the whole history of the bubble with the formation of combustion and shock fronts is computed as a function of Γ. Both deflagrations and detonations can appear depending on the values of the parameters. Reheating due to collisions of bubbles is also computed
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Physical Review. D, Particles Fields
- Journal Volume
- 49
- Journal Issue
- 8
- Journal Page Range
- p. 3854-3868.
- ISSN
- 0556-2821
- CODEN
- PRVDAQ
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United States
- Country of Input or Organization
- United States
- INIS RN
- 25053383
- Subject category
- S72: PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS;
- Descriptors DEI
- BUBBLE GROWTH; COMBUSTION; COSMOLOGY; LATENT HEAT STORAGE; NUCLEATION; ORDER PARAMETERS; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; QUANTUM CHROMODYNAMICS; SURFACE TENSION
- Descriptors DEC
- CHEMICAL REACTIONS; ENERGY STORAGE; FIELD THEORIES; HEAT STORAGE; OXIDATION; QUANTUM FIELD THEORY; STORAGE; SURFACE PROPERTIES