118658864
Exact noise kernel for quantum fields in static de Sitter and conformally-flat spacetimes
We compute exact expressions of the noise kernel, defined as the expectation value of the symmetrized connected stress energy bitensor, for conformally-invariant scalar fields with respect to the conformal vacuum, valid for an arbitrary separation (timelike, spacelike and null) of points in a class of conformally-flat spacetimes. We derive explicit expressions for the noise kernel evaluated in the static de Sitter coordinates with respect to the Gibbons-Hawking vacuum and analyze the behavior of the noise kernel in the region near the cosmological horizon. We develop a quasi-local expansion near the cosmological horizon and compare it with the exact results. This gives insight into the likely range of validity of the quasi-local approximation expressions for the noise kernel for the conformally invariant scalar field in Schwarzschild spacetime which are given in PHYSICAL REVIEW D{\bf 85}, 044037 (2012).
119407258
Quantum statistical processes in the early universe
We show how the concept of quantum open system and the methods in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics can be usefully applied to studies of quantum statistical processes in the early universe. We first sketch how noise, fluctuation, dissipation and decoherence processes arise in a wide range of cosmological problems. We then focus on the origin and nature of noise in quantum fields and spacetime dynamics. We introduce the concept of geometrodynamic noise and suggest a statistical mechanical definition of gravitational entropy. We end with a brief discussion of the theoretical appropriateness to view the physical universe as an open system.
22366791
Noise kernel in stochastic gravity and stress energy bitensor of quantum fields in curved spacetimes
The noise kernel is the vacuum expectation value of the (operator-valued) stress-energy bi-tensor which describes the fluctuations of a quantum field in curved spacetimes. It plays the role in stochastic semiclassical gravity based on the Einstein-Langevin equation similar to the expectation value of the stress-energy tensor in semiclassical gravity based on the semiclassical Einstein equation. According to the stochastic gravity program, this two point function (and by extension the higher order correlations in a hierarchy) of the stress energy tensor possesses precious statistical mechanical information of quantum fields in curved spacetime and, by the self-consistency required of Einstein's equation, provides a probe into the coherence properties of the gravity sector (as measured by the higher order correlation functions of gravitons) and the quantum nature of spacetime. It reflects the low and medium energy (referring to Planck energy as high energy) behavior of any viable theory of quantum gravity, including string theory. It is also useful for calculating quantum fluctuations of fields in modern theories of structure formation and for backreaction problems in cosmological and black holes spacetimes. 
We discuss the properties of this bi-tensor with the method of point-separation, and derive a regularized expression of the noise-kernel for a scalar field in general curved spacetimes. One collorary of our finding is that for a massless conformal field the trace of the noise kernel identically vanishes. We outline how the general framework and results derived here can be used for the calculation of noise kernels for Robertson-Walker and Schwarzschild spacetimes.
17830761
Correlation entropy of an interacting quantum field and H theorem for the O(N) model
Following the paradigm of Boltzmann-BBGKY we propose a correlation entropy (of the nth order) for an interacting quantum field, obtained by `slaving' (truncation with causal factorization) of the higher (n+1 th) order correlation functions in the Schwinger-Dyson system of equations. This renders an otherwise closed system effectively open where dissipation arises. The concept of correlation entropy is useful for addressing issues related to thermalization. As a small yet important step in that direction we prove an H-theorem for the correlation entropy of a quantum mechanical O(N) model with a Closed Time Path Two Particle Irreducible Effective Action at the level of Next-to-Leading-Order large N approximation. This model may be regarded as a field theory in $0$ space dimensions.
18511662
Noise and fluctuations in semiclassical gravity.
We continue our earlier investigation of the back reaction problem in semiclassical gravity with the Schwinger-Keldysh or closed-time-path (CTP) functional formalism using the language of the decoherent history formulation of quantum mechanics. Making use of its intimate relation with the Feynman-Vernon influence functional method, we examine the statistical mechanical meaning and show the interrelation of the many quantum processes involved in the back reaction problem, such as particle creation, decoherence, and dissipation. We show how noise and fluctuation arise naturally from the CTP formalism. We derive an expression for the CTP effective action in terms of the Bogoliubov coefficients and show how noise is related to the fluctuations in the number of particles created. In so doing we have extended the old framework of semiclassical gravity, based on the mean field theory of Einstein equation with a source given by the expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor, to that based on a Langevin-type equation, where the dynamics of the fluctuations of spacetime is driven by the quantum fluctuations of the matter field. This generalized framework is useful for the investigation of quantum processes in the early Universe involving fluctuations, vacuum instability, and phase transition phenomena as well as the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of black holes. It is also essential to an understanding of the transition from any quantum theory of gravity to classical general relativity.
118267306
Cosmology as `Condensed Matter' Physics
We note that in general there exist two basic aspects in any branch of physics, including cosmology - one dealing with the attributes of basic constituents and forces of nature, the other dealing with how structures arise from them and how they evolve. Current research in quantum and superstring cosmology is directed mainly towards the first aspect, even though a viable theory of the underlying interactions is lacking. We call the attention to the development of the second aspect, i.e., on the organization and processing of the basic constituents of matter (in classical cosmology) and spacetime (in quantum cosmology). Many newly developed concepts and techniques in condensed matter physics stemming from the investigation of disordered, dynamical and complex systems can guide us in asking the right questions and formulating new solutions to existing and developing cosmological issues, thereby broadening our view of the universe both in its formative and present state.
118029650
Future CMB integrated-Sachs-Wolfe-lensing bispectrum constraints on modified gravity in the parametrized post-Friedmann formalism
We forecast the constraints on both Hu-Sawicki model and Bertschinger-Zukin model of modified gravity within the Parameterized Post-Friedmann (PPF) formalism for the Planck satellite experiment by performing the joint analysis of ISW-Lensing bispectrum and CMB power spectrum. We find that, even considering the temperature-temperature mode of CMB power spectrum only, Planck data are expected to reduce the error bars on the modified gravity parameter $B_0$ (related to the present value of Compton wavelength of the extra scalar degree of freedom) at least one order magnitude compared with WMAP. The spectrum-bispectrum joint analysis can further improve the results by a factor ranging from 1.14 to 5.32 depending on the specific modified gravity model. One of our main results is that the cross-correlation between ISW-Lensing bispectrum and power spectrum can be safely neglected when performing the joint analysis. For simplicity, we only investigate the likelihood of one parameter ({$B_0$}) and fix all other cosmological parameters to their best-fit values in WMAP7yr results.
118679381
Dynamical scalar degree of freedom in Horava-Lifshitz gravity
We investigate the linear cosmological perturbations of Horcava-Lifshitz gravity in a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe without any matter. Our results show that a new gauge-invariant dynamical scalar mode emerges, due to the gauge transformation under the "foliation-preserving" diffeomorphism and "projectability condition," and it can produce a scale invariant power spectrum. In the infrared regime with lambda=1, the dynamical scalar degree of freedom turns to be a nondynamical one at the linear order level.
119229309
Non-Gaussian features from the inverse volume corrections in loop quantum cosmology
In this paper we study the non-Gaussian features of the primordial fluctuations in loop quantum cosmology with the inverse volume corrections. The detailed analysis is performed in the single field slow-roll inflationary models. However, our results reflect the universal characteristics of bispectrum in loop quantum cosmology. The main corrections to the scalar bispectrum come from two aspects: one is the modifications to the standard Bunch-Davies vacuum, and the other is the corrections to the background dependent variables, such as slow-roll parameters. Our calculations show that the loop quantum corrections make f(NL) of the inflationary models increase 0.1%. Moreover, we find that two new shapes of non-Gaussian signal arise, which we name F-1 and F-2. The former gives a unique loop quantum feature, which is less correlated with the local, equilateral, and single types, while the latter is highly correlated with the local one.
120701054
Renormalization group study of the one dimensional quantum mechanical XY model
The one dimensional quantum mechanical XY model is studied by the renormalization group method. To second order in the cumulant expansion, no non-trivial fixed points are found. The calculated free energy is in excellent agreement with that of the exact solution.
118426631
Acoustic signatures in the Cosmic Microwave Background bispectrum from primordial magnetic fields
Using the full radiation transfer function, we numerically calculate the CMB angular bispectrum seeded by the compensated magnetic scalar density mode. We find that, for the string inspired primordial magnetic fields characterized by index nB = −2.9 and mean-field amplitude Bλ = 9nG, the angular bispectrum is dominated by two primordial magnetic shapes. The first magnetic shape looks similar to the one from local-type primordial curvature perturbations, so both the amplitude and profile of the Komatsu-Spergel estimator (reduced bispectrum) seeded by this shape are almost the same as those of the primary CMB anisotropies. However, for different parameter sets (l1,l2), this ``local-type'' reduced bispectrum oscillates around different asymptotic values in the high-l3 regime because of the effect of the Lorentz force, which is exerted by the primordial magnetic fields on the charged baryons. This feature is different from the standard case where all modes approach to zero asymptotically in the high-l limit. On the other hand, the second magnetic shape appears only in the primordial magnetic field model. The amplitude of the Komatsu-Spergel estimator sourced by the second shape diverges in the low-l regime because of the negative slope of shape. In the high-l regime, this amplitude is approximately equal to that of the first estimator, but with a reversal phase.