Published June 15, 1991 | Version v1
Journal article

Quantum state of a nucleating bubble

  • 1. Tufts Institute of Cosmology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155 (USA)

Description

We consider a field theory consisting of two interacting scalar fields: σ and Φ. The scalar field σ is assumed to undergo a first-order phase transition via the nucleation of bubbles. We solve the Schroedinger equation for the combined system of a bubble plus the field Φ with appropriate boundary conditions. This allows us to determine the quantum state of the field Φ in the background of the nucleating and subsequently expanding bubble. The simplest description of this quantum state is obtained in the picture where Φ is represented as an infinite set of massive scalar fields in a (2+1)-dimensional de Sitter space. We show that the bubble nucleates with all these fields in de Sitter-invariant quantum states and that the resulting quantum state of the field Φ is Lorentz invariant

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review, D
Journal Volume
43
Journal Issue
12
Series
Phys. Rev., D.
Journal Page Range
3846-3855
ISSN
0556-2821
CODEN
PRVDA