Massive scalar field evolution in de Sitter

TY - JOUR

T1 - Massive scalar field evolution in de Sitter

AU - Markkanen, Tommi

AU - Rajantie, Arttu

PY - 2017/1/30

Y1 - 2017/1/30

N2 - The behaviour of a massive, non-interacting and non-minimally coupled quantised scalar field in an expanding de Sitter background is investigated by solving the field evolution for an arbitrary initial state. In this approach there is no need to choose a vacuum in order to provide a definition for particle states, nor to introduce an explicit ultraviolet regularization. We conclude that the expanding de Sitter space is a stable equilibrium configuration under small perturbations of the initial conditions. Depending on the initial state, the energy density can approach its asymptotic value from above or below, the latter of which implies a violation of the weak energy condition. The backreaction of the quantum corrections can therefore lead to a phase of super-acceleration also in the non-interacting massive case.

AB - The behaviour of a massive, non-interacting and non-minimally coupled quantised scalar field in an expanding de Sitter background is investigated by solving the field evolution for an arbitrary initial state. In this approach there is no need to choose a vacuum in order to provide a definition for particle states, nor to introduce an explicit ultraviolet regularization. We conclude that the expanding de Sitter space is a stable equilibrium configuration under small perturbations of the initial conditions. Depending on the initial state, the energy density can approach its asymptotic value from above or below, the latter of which implies a violation of the weak energy condition. The backreaction of the quantum corrections can therefore lead to a phase of super-acceleration also in the non-interacting massive case.

KW - Classical Theories of Gravity

KW - Field Theories in Higher Dimensions

KW - Field Theories in Lower Dimensions

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85011629797&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/JHEP01(2017)133

DO - 10.1007/JHEP01(2017)133

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85011629797

SN - 1126-6708

VL - 2017

JO - Journal of High Energy Physics

JF - Journal of High Energy Physics

IS - 1

M1 - 133

ER -