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Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
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Constraining First-Order Phase Transitions with Curvature Perturbations.
Jing Liu1,2,3, Ligong Bian4,5, Rong-Gen Cai3,6,7
1International Centre for Theoretical Physics Asia-Pacific, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China.
Physical Review Letters
|February 17, 2023
Summary
Quantum tunneling during phase transitions creates curvature perturbations. These perturbations constrain phase transition parameters using cosmic microwave background data and minihalo abundance, probing new physics.
Area of Science:
- Cosmology
- Particle Physics
- Quantum Field Theory
Background:
- Cosmological first-order phase transitions are a key area of study in early universe physics.
- Quantum tunneling is a known phenomenon that can occur during such transitions.
- Superhorizon curvature perturbations are a potential observable consequence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To utilize quantum tunneling-induced superhorizon curvature perturbations for constraining cosmological first-order phase transition parameters.
- To explore a novel approach for probing new physics beyond the Standard Model.
Main Methods:
- Analyzing the impact of quantum tunneling on curvature perturbations during first-order phase transitions.
- Utilizing observational data from cosmic microwave background (CMB) spectrum distortions.
- Employing ultracompact minihalo abundance as a cosmological probe.
Main Results:
- Established a method to constrain phase transition parameters using curvature perturbations.
- Demonstrated that CMB spectrum distortion and minihalo abundance provide strict constraints on phase transitions below 100 GeV.
- Showed particular sensitivity for low-scale and some electroweak phase transitions.
Conclusions:
- Curvature perturbations offer a novel and powerful tool to study early universe phase transitions.
- The study significantly extends current constraints on phase transition parameters.
- This work opens a new avenue for investigating new physics through cosmological observations.
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