Perturbative nonequilibrium dynamics of phase transitions in an expanding universe

A complete set of Feynman rules is derived, which permits a perturbative description of the nonequilibrium dynamics of a symmetry-breaking phase transition in $\lambda\phi^4$ theory in an expanding universe. In contrast to a naive expansion in powers of the coupling constant, this approximation scheme provides for (a) a description of the nonequilibrium state in terms of its own finite-width quasiparticle excitations, thus correctly incorporating dissipative effects in low-order calculations, and (b) the emergence from a symmetric initial state of a final state exhibiting the properties of spontaneous symmetry breaking, while maintaining the constraint $\equiv 0$. Earlier work on dissipative perturbation theory and spontaneous symmetry breaking in Minkowski spacetime is reviewed. The central problem addressed is the construction of a perturbative approximation scheme which treats the initial symmetric state in terms of the field $\phi$, while the state that emerges at later times is treated in terms of a field $\zeta$, linearly related to $\phi^2$. The connection between early and late times involves an infinite sequence of composite propagators. Explicit one-loop calculations are given of the gap equations that determine quasiparticle masses and of the equation of motion for $$ and the renormalization of these equations is described. The perturbation series needed to describe the symmetric and broken-symmetry states are not equivalent, and this leads to ambiguities intrinsic to any perturbative approach. These ambiguities are discussed in detail and a systematic procedure for matching the two approximations is described.Comment: 22 pages, using RevTeX. 6 figures. Submitted to Physical Review

Crossover from the pair contact process with diffusion to directed percolation

Crossover behaviors from the pair contact process with diffusion (PCPD) and the driven PCPD (DPCPD) to the directed percolation (DP) are studied in one dimension by introducing a single particle annihilation/branching dynamics. The crossover exponents $\phi$ are estimated numerically as $1/\phi \simeq 0.58\pm0.03$ for the PCPD and $1/\phi \simeq 0.49 \pm 0.02$ for the DPCPD. Nontriviality of the PCPD crossover exponent strongly supports non-DP nature of the PCPD critical scaling, which is further evidenced by the anomalous critical amplitude scaling near the PCPD point. In addition, we find that the DPCPD crossover is consistent with the mean field prediction of the tricritical DP class as expected

Nonequilibrium perturbation theory for complex scalar fields

Real-time perturbation theory is formulated for complex scalar fields away from thermal equilibrium in such a way that dissipative effects arising from the absorptive parts of loop diagrams are approximately resummed into the unperturbed propagators. Low order calculations of physical quantities then involve quasiparticle occupation numbers which evolve with the changing state of the field system, in contrast to standard perturbation theory, where these occupation numbers are frozen at their initial values. The evolution equation of the occupation numbers can be cast approximately in the form of a Boltzmann equation. Particular attention is given to the effects of a non-zero chemical potential, and it is found that the thermal masses and decay widths of quasiparticle modes are different for particles and antiparticles.Comment: 15 pages using RevTeX; 2 figures in 1 Postscript file; Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Comments on a class of orthogonality relations relevant to fluid-structure interaction

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Crossover from the parity-conserving pair contact process with diffusion to other universality classes

The pair contact process with diffusion (PCPD) with modulo 2 conservation (\pcpdt) [$2A\to 4A$, $2A\to 0$] is studied in one dimension, focused on the crossover to other well established universality classes: the directed Ising (DI) and the directed percolation (DP). First, we show that the \pcpdt shares the critical behaviors with the PCPD, both with and without directional bias. Second, the crossover from the \pcpdt to the DI is studied by including a parity-conserving single-particle process ($A \to 3A$). We find the crossover exponent $1/\phi_1 = 0.57(3)$, which is argued to be identical to that of the PCPD-to-DP crossover by adding $A \to 2A$. This suggests that the PCPD universality class has a well defined fixed point distinct from the DP. Third, we study the crossover from a hybrid-type reaction-diffusion process belonging to the DP [$3A\to 5A$, $2A\to 0$] to the DI by adding $A \to 3A$. We find $1/\phi_2 = 0.73(4)$ for the DP-to-DI crossover. The inequality of $\phi_1$ and $\phi_2$ further supports the non-DP nature of the PCPD scaling. Finally, we introduce a symmetry-breaking field in the dual spin language to study the crossover from the \pcpdt to the DP. We find $1/\phi_3 = 1.23(10)$, which is associated with a new independent route from the PCPD to the DP.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Nontrivial critical crossover between directed percolation models: Effect of infinitely many absorbing states

At non-equilibrium phase transitions into absorbing (trapped) states, it is well known that the directed percolation (DP) critical scaling is shared by two classes of models with a single (S) absorbing state and with infinitely many (IM) absorbing states. We study the crossover behavior in one dimension, arising from a considerable reduction of the number of absorbing states (typically from the IM-type to the S-type DP models), by following two different (excitatory or inhibitory) routes which make the auxiliary field density abruptly jump at the crossover. Along the excitatory route, the system becomes overly activated even for an infinitesimal perturbation and its crossover becomes discontinuous. Along the inhibitory route, we find continuous crossover with the universal crossover exponent $\phi\simeq 1.78(6)$, which is argued to be equal to $\nu_\|$, the relaxation time exponent of the DP universality class on a general footing. This conjecture is also confirmed in the case of the directed Ising (parity-conserving) class. Finally, we discuss the effect of diffusion to the IM-type models and suggest an argument why diffusive models with some hybrid-type reactions should belong to the DP class.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Friction in inflaton equations of motion

The possibility of a friction term in the equation of motion for a scalar field is investigated in non-equilibrium field theory. The results obtained differ greatly from existing estimates based on linear response theory, and suggest that dissipation is not well represented by a term of the form $\eta\dot{\phi}$.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, RevTex4. An obscurity in the original version has been clarifie

Nonequilibrium perturbation theory for spin-1/2 fields

A partial resummation of perturbation theory is described for field theories containing spin-1/2 particles in states that may be far from thermal equilibrium. This allows the nonequilibrium state to be characterized in terms of quasiparticles that approximate its true elementary excitations. In particular, the quasiparticles have dispersion relations that differ from those of free particles, finite thermal widths and occupation numbers which, in contrast to those of standard perturbation theory evolve with the changing nonequilibrium environment. A description of this kind is essential for estimating the evolution of the system over extended periods of time. In contrast to the corresponding description of scalar particles, the structure of nonequilibrium fermion propagators exhibits features which have no counterpart in the equilibrium theory.Comment: 16 pages; no figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.