Tunneling in a quantum field theory on a compact one-dimensional space

DOI10.1016/J.NUCLPHYSB.2006.03.031MaRDI QIDQ879838zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors J. Baacke, Nina Kevlishvili

Publication date 10 May 2007

Published in Nuclear Physics B (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0505118

zbMATH Keywords

Hartree approximationnumerical simulationsquantum field theoryreal time approachtunneling

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Model quantum field theories (81T10)

Abstract: We compute tunneling in a quantum field theory in 1+1 dimensions for a field potential $U(Phi)$ of the asymmetric double well type. The system is localized initially in the ``false vacuum. We consider the case of a {em compact space} ($S_1$) and study {em global} tunneling. The process is studied in real-time simulations. The computation is based on the time-dependent Hartree-Fock variational principle with a product {em ansatz} for the wave functions of the various normal modes. While the wave functions of the nonzero momentum modes are treated within the Gaussian approximation, the wave function of the zero mode that tunnels between the two wells is not restricted to be Gaussian, but evolves according to a standard Schr"odinger equation. We find that in general tunneling occurs in a resonant way, the resonances being associated with degeneracies of the approximate levels in the two separated wells. If the nonzero momentum modes of the quantum field are excited only weakly, the phenomena resemble those of quantum mechanics with the wave function of the zero mode oscillating forth and back between the wells. If the nonzero momentum modes are excited efficiently, they react back onto the zero mode causing an effective dissipation. In some region of parameter space this back-reaction causes the potential barrier to disappear temporarily or definitely, the tunneling towards the ``true vacuum is then replaced by a sliding of the wave function.

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Cites work

• Effective potential of the \(O(N)\) linear sigma-model at finite temperature
• Eternal inflation and the present universe
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3049368 (Why is no real title available?)
• Wave function of the universe

Cited in

(4)

• Modeling the quantum tunneling effect for a particle with intrinsic structure in presence of external magnetic field in the Lobachevsky space
• Variational approach to tunneling dynamics. Application to hot superfluid Fermi systems. Spontaneous and induced fission
• A note on real tunnelling geometries
• Topological origin of quantum mechanical vacuum transitions and tunneling

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