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Marcelo Gleiser

Publications and source records attributed to Marcelo Gleiser.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv1995

Modeling Thermal Fluctuations: Phase Mixing and Percolation

We consider the nonequilibrium dynamics of a a real scalar field in a degenerate double-well potential. The system is prepared in the lowest free energy state in one of the wells and the dynamics is driven by the coupling of the field to a thermal bath. Using a simple analytical model, based on the subcritical bubbles method, we compute the fraction of the total volume which fluctuates to the opposite phase as a function of the parameters of the potential. Furthermore, we show how complete phase mixing, {\em i.e.} symmetry restoration, is related to percolation, which is dynamically driven by domain instability. Our method describes quantitatively recent results obtained by numerical simulations, and is applicable to systems in the Ising universality class.

cond-mat↗
arXiv1995

Nonperturbative effects on nucleation

A nonperturbative correction to the thermal nucleation rate of critical bubbles in a first order phase transition is estimated. The correction originates from large-amplitude fluctuations which may be present before the transition occurs. Using a simple model of a scalar field in a double-well potential, we present a method to obtain a corrected potential which incorporates the free-energy density available from large-amplitude fluctuations, which is not included in the usual perturbative calculation. For weaker phase transitions, the nucleation rate can be much larger than the rate calculated via perturbation theory. As an application of our method, we show how nonperturbative corrections can both qualitatively and quantitatively explain anomalously high nucleation rates observed in 2-d numerical simulations.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1995

Thermal Mixing of Phases: Numerical and Analytical Studies

The dynamics of phase transitions plays a crucial rôle in the so-called interface between high energy particle physics and cosmology. Many of the interesting results generated during the last fifteen years or so rely on simplified assumptions concerning the complex mechanisms typical of nonequilibrium field theories. In particular, whenever first order phase transitions are invoked, the metastable background is assumed to be sufficiently smooth to justify the use of homogeneous nucleation theory in the computation of nucleation rates of critical bubbles. In this talk I present the results of numerical simulations which were designed to quantify ``smoothness''; that is, how the contribution from nonperturbative subcritical fluctuations may spoil the homogeneity assumption of nucleation theory. I then show how the numerical results can be understood {\it quantitatively} in terms of a simple analytical model of subcritical thermal fluctuations. Encouraged by the success of the model in matching the numerical results, I apply it to the standard model electroweak phase transition.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1994

Thermal Phase Mixing During First Order Phase Transitions

The dynamics of first order phase transitions are studied in the context of (3+1)-dimensional scalar field theories. Particular attention is paid to the question of quantifying the strength of the transition, and how `weak' and `strong' transitions have different dynamics. We propose a model with two available low temperature phases separated by an energy barrier so that one of them becomes metastable below the critical temperature $T_c$. The system is initially prepared in this phase and is coupled to a thermal bath. Investigating the system at its critical temperature, we find that `strong' transitions are characterized by the system remaining localized within its initial phase, while `weak' transitions are characterized by considerable phase mixing. Always at $T_c$, we argue that the two regimes are themselves separated by a (second order) phase transition, with an order parameter given by the fractional population difference between the two phases and a control parameter given by the strength of the scalar field's quartic self-coupling constant. We obtain a Ginzburg-like criterion to distinguish between `weak' and `strong' transitions, in agreement with previous results in (2+1)-dimensions.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1994

Baryogenesis in Brief

In this talk I briefly review the main ideas and challenges involved in the computation of the baryon asymmetry of the Universe. (Invited talk given at ``The Birth of the Universe and Fundamental Physics'', Rome, May 18--21, 1994.)

hep-ph↗
arXiv1994

On the Strength of First Order Phase Transitions

Electroweak baryogenesis may solve one of the most fundamental questions we can ask about the universe, that of the origin of matter. It has become clear in the past few years that it also poses a multi-faceted challenge. In order to compute the tiny primordial baryonic excess, we probably must invoke physics beyond the standard model (an exciting prospect for most people), we must push perturbation theory to its ``limits'' (or beyond), and we must deal with nonequilibrium aspects of the phase transition. In this talk, I focus mainly on the latter issue, that of nonequilibrium aspects of first order transitions. In particular, I discuss the elusive question of ``weakness''. What does it mean to have a weak first order transition, and how can we distinguish between weak and strong? I argue that weak and strong transitions have very different dynamics; while strong transitions proceed by the usual bubble nucleation mechanism, weak transitions are characterized by a mixing of phases as the system reaches the critical temperature from above. I show that it is possible to clearly distinguish between the two, and discuss consequences for studies of first order transitions in general. (Invited talk given at the ``Electroweak Physics and the Early Universe'' workshop, Sintra, March 23-25, 1994.)

hep-ph↗
arXiv1994

Dynamics of Weak First Order Phase Transitions

The dynamics of weak vs. strong first order phase transitions is investigated numerically for 2+1 dimensional scalar field models. It is argued that the change from a weak to a strong transition is itself a (second order) phase transition, with the order parameter being the equilibrium fractional population difference between the two phases at the critical temperature, and the control parameter being the coefficient of the cubic coupling in the free-energy density. The critical point is identified, and a power law controlling the relaxation dynamics at this point is obtained. Possible applications are briefly discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1993

Kinetics of Sub-Critical Bubbles and the Electroweak Transition

We investigate the role of large amplitude sub-critical thermal fluctuations in the dynamics of first order phase transitions. In particular, we obtain a kinetic equation for the number density of sub-critical fluctuations of the broken-symmetric phase within the symmetric phase, modeled as spherical bubbles, and solve it analytically for temperatures above the critical temperature. We study the approach to equilibrium and obtain the equilibrium distribution of sub-critical bubbles of the unstable phase by examining three possible mechanisms responsible for their removal; their shrinking, their coupling to thermal noise, and by thermal fluctuations of the true vacuum inside them. We show that for sufficiently strong transitions, either the shrinking or the coupling to thermal noise dominate the dynamics. As the strength of the transition weakens we show that sub-critical fluctuations become progressively more important, as a larger fraction of the total volume is occupied by the broken-symmetric phase, until the point where our analytical approach breaks down. Our investigation suggests that pre-transitional phenomena may considerably change the dynamics of sufficiently weak first-order transitions. We apply our results to the standard electroweak transition.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1993

Pseudo-Stable Bubbles

The evolution of spherically symmetric unstable scalar field configurations (``bubbles'') is examined for both symmetric (SDWP) and asymmetric (ADWP) double-well potentials. Bubbles with initial static energies $E_0\la E_{\rm crit}$, where $E_{\rm crit}$ is some critical value, shrink in a time scale determined by their linear dimension, or ``radius''. Bubbles with $E_0\ga E_{\rm crit}$ evolve into time-dependent, localized configurations which are {\it very} long-lived compared to characteristic time-scales in the models examined. The stability of these configurations is investigated and possible applications are briefly discussed.tic time-scales in the models examined. The stability of these configurations is investigated and possible applications are briefly discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1992

Thermal Fluctuations and Validity of the 1-Loop Effective Potential

We examine the validity of the 1-loop approximation to the effective potential at finite temperatures and present a simple test for its reliability. As an application we study the standard electroweak potential, showing that for a Higgs mass above 70 GeV, and afirly independent of the top mass (with $m_{t} > 90 GeV$, the 1-loop approximation is no longer valid for temperatures in the neighborhood of the critical temperature.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1992

Critical Behavior in the Electroweak Phase Transition

We examine the behavior of the standard-model electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. We argue that close to the critical temperature it is possible to estimate the {\it effective} infrared corrections to the 1-loop potential using well known $\varepsilon$-expansion results from the theory of critical phenomena in 3 spatial dimensions. The theory with the $\varepsilon$-corrected potential exhibits much larger fluctuations in the spatial correlations of the order parameter, considerably weakening the strength of the transition.

hep-ph↗