120515364
Observational Constraints on the Braneworld Geometry
118586772
Features of heavy physics in the CMB power spectrum
The computation of the primordial power spectrum in multi-field inflation models requires us to correctly account for all relevant interactions between adiabatic and non-adiabatic modes around and after horizon crossing. One specific complication arises from derivative interactions induced by the curvilinear trajectory of the inflaton in a multi-dimensional field space. In this work we compute the power spectrum in general multi-field models and show that certain inflaton trajectories may lead to observationally significant imprints of `heavy' physics in the primordial power spectrum if the inflaton trajectory turns, that is, traverses a bend, sufficiently fast (without interrupting slow roll), even in cases where the modes normal to the trajectory have masses approaching the cutoff of our theory. We emphasize that turning is defined with respect to the geodesics of the sigma model metric, irrespective of whether this is canonical or non-trivial. The imprints generically take the form of damped superimposed oscillations on the power spectrum. In the particular case of two-field models, if one of the fields is sufficiently massive compared to the scale of inflation, we are able to compute an effective low energy theory for the adiabatic mode encapsulating certain relevant operators of the full multi-field dynamics. As expected, a particular characteristic of this effective theory is a modified speed of sound for the adiabatic mode which is a functional of the background inflaton trajectory and the turns traversed during inflation. Hence in addition, we expect non-Gaussian signatures directly related to the features imprinted in the power spectrum.
119299896
Mass hierarchies and non-decoupling in multi-scalar field dynamics
In this work we study the effects of field space curvature on scalar field perturbations around an arbitrary background field trajectory evolving in time. Non-trivial imprints of the 'heavy' directions on the low energy dynamics arise when the vacuum manifold of the potential does not coincide with the span of geodesics defined by the sigma model metric of the full theory. When the kinetic energy is small compared to the potential energy, the field traverses a curve close to the vacuum manifold of the potential. The curvature of the path followed by the fields can still have a profound influence on the perturbations as modes parallel to the trajectory mix with those normal to it if the trajectory turns sharply enough. We analyze the dynamical mixing between these non-decoupled degrees of freedom and deduce its non-trivial contribution to the low energy effective theory for the light modes. We also discuss the consequences of this mixing for various scenarios where multiple scalar fields play a vital role, such as inflation and low-energy compactifications of string theory.
55152520
On the importance of heavy fields during inflation
We study the dynamics of two-field models of inflation characterized by a hierarchy of masses between curvature and isocurvature modes. When the hierarchy is large, a low energy effective field theory (EFT) exists in which only curvature modes participate in the dynamics of perturbations. In this EFT heavy fields continue to have a significant role in the low energy dynamics, as their interaction with curvature modes reduces their speed of sound whenever the multi-field trajectory is subject to a sharp turn in target space. Here we analyze under which general conditions this EFT remains a reliable description for the linear evolution of curvature modes. We find that the main condition consists on demanding that the rate of change of the turn's angular velocity stays suppressed with respect to the masses of heavy modes. This adiabaticity condition allows the EFT to accurately describe a large variety of situations in which the multi-field trajectory is subject to sharp turns. To test this, we analyze several models with turns and show that, indeed, the power spectra obtained for both the original two-field theory and its single-field EFT are identical when the adiabaticity condition is satisfied. In particular, when turns are sharp and sudden, they are found to generate large features in the power spectrum, accurately reproduced by the EFT.
58905616
Loop quantum gravity corrections and cosmic rays decays
Loop quantum gravity effective theories are reviewed in the context of the observed GZK limit anomaly and related processes. This is accomplished through a kinematical analysis of the modified threshold conditions for the involved decay reactions, arising from the theory. Specially interesting is the possibility of an helicity dependant violation of the limit, whose primary effect would be the observation of favoured helicity states for highly energetic particles.
31013176
Effective theories of single field inflation when heavy fields matter
We compute the low energy effective field theory (EFT) expansion for single-field inflationary models that descend from a parent theory containing multiple other scalar fields. By assuming that all other degrees of freedom in the parent theory are sufficiently massive relative to the inflaton, it is possible to derive an EFT valid to arbitrary order in perturbations, provided certain generalized adiabaticity conditions are respected. These conditions permit a consistent low energy EFT description even when the inflaton deviates off its adiabatic minimum along its slowly rolling trajectory. By generalizing the formalism that identifies the adiabatic mode with the Goldstone boson of this spontaneously broken time translational symmetry prior to the integration of the heavy fields, we show that this invariance of the parent theory dictates the entire non-perturbative structure of the descendent EFT. The couplings of this theory can be written entirely in terms of the reduced speed of sound of adiabatic perturbations. The resulting operator expansion is distinguishable from that of other scenarios, such as standard single inflation or DBI inflation. In particular, we re-derive how certain operators can become transiently strongly coupled along the inflaton trajectory, consistent with slow-roll and the validity of the EFT expansion, imprinting features in the primordial power spectrum, and we deduce the relevant cubic operators that imply distinct signatures in the primordial bispectrum which may soon be constrained by observations. We dedicate this paper to the memory of our dear colleague and friend, Sjoerd Hardeman. His ideas, insights and diligence permeates every aspect of this work.
121231484
Interference in the radiation of two relativistic charges
The radiation produced by two interacting relativistic point charges is considered. Under an appropriate approximation the radiation of the system as a whole (interference effects included) is expressed as a function of the relative velocity.
14281658
A self consistent study of the phase transition in the scalar electroweak theory at finite temperature
We propose the study of the phase transition in the scalar electroweak theory at finite temperature by a two — step method. It combines i) dimensional reduction to a 3 — dimensional lattice theory via perturbative blockspin transformation, and ii) either further real space renormalization group transformations, or solution of gap equations, for the 3d lattice theory. A gap equation can be obtained by using the Peierls inequality to find the best quadratic approximation to the 3d action. This method avoids the lack of self consistency of the usual treatments which do not separate infrared and UV-problems by introduction of a lattice cutoff. The effective 3d lattice action could also be used in computer simulations.
119459248
Analytic calculation of the 1-loop effective action for the O(N+1)-symmetric 2-dimensional nonlinear sigma-model
Polyakov's calculation of the effective action for the 2d nonlinear sigma-Model is generalized by purely analytic means to include contributions which are not UV-divergent and which depend on the choice of block spin. An analytic approximation to the background field which determines the classical perfect action is given, and approximations to the 1-loop correction are found. The results should be useful for numerical simulations.
1744775
Self-consistent calculation of real space renormalization group flows and effective potentials
Abstract We show how to compute real space renormalization group flows in lattice field theory by a self-consistent method which is designed to preserve the basic stability properties of a Boltzmann factor. Particular attention is paid to controlling the errors which come from truncating the action to a manageable form. In each step, the integration over the fluctuation field (high frequency components of the field) is performed by a saddle point method. The saddle point depends on the block spin. Higher powers of derivatives of the field are neglected in the actions, but no polynomial approximation in the field is made. The flow preserves a simple parameterization of the action. In the first part the method is described and numerical results are presented. In the second part we discuss an improvement of the method where the saddle point approximation is preceded by self-consistent normal ordering, i.e. solution of a gap equation. In the third part we describe a general procedure to obtain higher order corrections with the help of Schwinger-Dyson equations. In this paper we treat scalar field theories as an example. The basic limitations of the method are also discussed. They come from a possible breakdown of stability which may occur when a composite block spin or block variables for domain walls would be needed.
119486225
Resonance enhancement of particle production during reheating
We found a consistent equation of reheating after inflation which shows that for small quantum fluctuations the frequencies of resonance are slighted different from the standard ones. Quantum interference is taken into account and we found that at large fluctuations the process mimics very well the usual parametric resonance, but proceeds in a different dynamical way. The analysis is made in a toy quantum mechanical model and we discuss further its extension to quantum field theory.