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Cosmic evolution from phase transition of three-dimensional flat space
Arjun Bagchi1, Stephane Detournay, Daniel Grumiller
1School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom and Center for Theoretical Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|November 19, 2013
Summary
Hot flat space transitions into flat space cosmology at high temperatures, revealing a novel phase transition in three-dimensional gravity theories like Einstein gravity.
Area of Science:
- Theoretical physics
- Gravitational physics
- Cosmology
Background:
- Flat space cosmology spacetimes are exact time-dependent solutions in 3D gravity.
- These solutions are relevant for theories such as Einstein gravity and topologically massive gravity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a novel phase transition between cosmological spacetimes and the Minkowski vacuum.
- To explore the behavior of hot flat space at high temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of exact time-dependent solutions in three-dimensional gravity theories.
- Investigation of phase transitions under varying temperature conditions.
Main Results:
- A novel phase transition between flat space cosmology and the Minkowski vacuum is exhibited.
- At high temperatures, (rotating) hot flat space transitions into a universe described by flat space cosmology.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates a new phase transition in three-dimensional gravity.
- Temperature plays a crucial role in the transition between different spacetime geometries.
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