de Sitter Vacua, Renormalization and Locality

We analyze the renormalization properties of quantum field theories in de Sitter space and show that only two of the maximally invariant vacuum states of free fields lead to consistent perturbation expansions. One is the Euclidean vacuum, and the other can be viewed as an analytic continuation of Euclidean functional integrals on $RP^d$. The corresponding Lorentzian manifold is the future half of global de Sitter space with boundary conditions on fields at the origin of time. We argue that the perturbation series in this case has divergences at the origin, which render the future evolution of the system indeterminate without a better understanding of high energy physics.Comment: JHEP Latex, 13 pages, v2. references adde

Abelian Gauge Theory in de Sitter Space

Quantization of spinor and vector free fields in 4-dimensional de Sitter space-time, in the ambient space notation, has been studied in the previous works. Various two-points functions for the above fields are presented in this paper. The interaction between the spinor field and the vector field is then studied by the abelian gauge theory. The U(1) gauge invariant spinor field equation is obtained in a coordinate independent way notation and their corresponding conserved currents are computed. The solution of the field equation is obtained by use of the perturbation method in terms of the Green's function. The null curvature limit is discussed in the final stage.Comment: 10 pages, typos corrected, reference adde

Dielectric strength of rigid urethane foam

Dielectric strength of rigid urethane foam for electronic packaging in space applicatio

Supergrassmannian and large N limit of quantum field theory with bosons and fermions

We study a large N_{c} limit of a two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory coupled to bosons and fermions in the fundamental representation. Extending an approach due to Rajeev we show that the limiting theory can be described as a classical Hamiltonian system whose phase space is an infinite-dimensional supergrassmannian. The linear approximation to the equations of motion and the constraint yields the 't Hooft equations for the mesonic spectrum. Two other approximation schemes to the exact equations are discussed.Comment: 24 pages, Latex; v.3 appendix added, typos corrected, to appear in JM

Squeezed States in the de Sitter Vacuum

We discuss the treatment of squeezed states as excitations in the Euclidean vacuum of de Sitter space. A comparison with the treatment of these states as candidate no-particle states, or alpha-vacua, shows important differences already in the free theory. At the interacting level alpha-vacua are inconsistent, but squeezed state excitations seem perfectly acceptable. Indeed, matrix elements can be renormalized in the excited states using precisely the standard local counterterms of the Euclidean vacuum. Implications for inflationary scenarios in cosmology are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, no figures. One new citation in version 3; no other change

On Thermalization in de Sitter Space

We discuss thermalization in de Sitter space and argue, from two different points of view, that the typical time needed for thermalization is of order $R^{3}/l_{pl}^{2}$, where $R$ is the radius of the de Sitter space in question. This time scale gives plenty of room for non-thermal deviations to survive during long periods of inflation. We also speculate in more general terms on the meaning of the time scale for finite quantum systems inside isolated boxes, and comment on the relation to the Poincar\'{e} recurrence time.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, latex, references added. Improved discussion in section 3 adde

On the lattice approach to the maximum Higgs boson mass

If the triviality upper bound on the Higgs boson mass mH occurs for strong self-coupling, inferring properties of the Higgs from the euclidean propagator is in principle theoretically difficult whether in coordinate or momentum space. In that case, common methods of identifying mH in lattice field theory simulations may produce a value for which is at best distantly related to the true upper limit. We discuss some shortcomings and ambiguities of recent results suggesting that the maximum occurs for weak coupling and emphasize potential complications due to finite-size and non-Lorentz-invariant effects of the lattice. The situation is illustrated by reference to the behavior in an analytically soluble approximation based on a 1/N expansion.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27139/1/0000132.pd

On the consistency of de Sitter vacua

In this paper the consistency of the de Sitter invariant $\alpha$-vacua, which have been introduced as simple tools to study the effects of transplanckian physics, is investigated. In particular possible non renormalization problems are discussed, as well as non standard properties of Greens functions. We also discuss the non thermal properties of the $\alpha$-vacua and the necessity of $\alpha$ to change. The conclusion is that non of these problems necessarily exclude an application of the $\alpha$-vacua to inflation.Comment: 12 pages, v2: minor clarifications and corrections to reference