Cosmology in gauge field theory and string theory

COSMOLOGY IN GAUGE FIELD THEORY AND STRING THEORY......Page 1
Contents......Page 4
Preface......Page 8
1.1 Introduction......Page 10
1.2 The Robertson–Walker metric......Page 11
1.3 Einstein equations for a Friedmann–Robertson–Walker universe......Page 14
1.4 Scale factor dependence of the energy density......Page 16
1.6 Age of the universe......Page 17
1.7 The cosmological constant......Page 19
1.8 Equilibrium thermodynamics in the expanding universe......Page 26
1.9 Transition from radiation to matter domination......Page 28
1.11 Big-bang nucleosynthesis......Page 30
1.13 General references......Page 36
Bibliography......Page 37
2.1 Introduction......Page 38
2.2 Partition functions......Page 39
2.3 The effective potential at finite temperature......Page 42
2.4 Phase transitions in the Higgs model......Page 45
2.4.1 e4 
 λ......Page 46
2.4.2 e4  λ......Page 49
2.5 Phase transitions in electroweak theory......Page 54
2.6 Phase transitions in grand unified theories......Page 57
2.7 Phase transitions in supersymmetric GUTs......Page 60
2.8 Phase transitions in supergravity theories......Page 64
2.9 Nucleation of true vacuum......Page 68
Bibliography......Page 72
3.1 Introduction......Page 74
3.2 Domain walls......Page 75
3.3 Global cosmic strings......Page 78
3.4 Local cosmic strings......Page 80
3.5 Gravitational fields of local cosmic strings......Page 83
3.5.1 Double images [5]......Page 84
3.6 Dynamics of local cosmic strings......Page 85
3.7 Magnetic monopoles......Page 89
3.8 Monopole topological quantum number......Page 92
3.9 Magnetic monopoles in grand unified theories......Page 94
3.10 Abundance of magnetic monopoles......Page 95
Bibliography......Page 98
4.1 Introduction......Page 100
4.2 Conditions for baryogenesis......Page 103
4.3 Out-of-equilibrium decay of heavy particles......Page 105
4.4 Baryogenesis in GUTs......Page 108
4.5 Baryogenesis in SO(10) GUTs......Page 119
4.6 Status of GUT baryogenesis......Page 122
4.7 Baryon-number non-conservation in the Standard Model......Page 123
4.8 Sphaleron-induced baryogenesis......Page 129
4.9 CP-violation in electroweak theory......Page 136
4.10 Phase transitions and electroweak baryogenesis......Page 138
4.11 Supersymmetric electroweak baryogenesis......Page 141
4.12 Affleck–Dine baryogenesis......Page 146
4.13 Exercises......Page 151
Bibliography......Page 152
5.1 Introduction......Page 156
5.2 Relic neutrinos......Page 159
5.3.1 Introduction: the strong CP problem and the axion solution......Page 160
5.3.2 Visible and invisible axion models......Page 165
5.3.3 Astrophysical constraints on axions......Page 168
5.3.4 Axions and cosmology......Page 170
5.5 General references......Page 178
Bibliography......Page 179
6.1 Introduction......Page 181
6.2 Weakly interacting massive particles or WIMPs......Page 184
6.3 The gravitino problem......Page 186
6.4 Minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM)......Page 188
6.5 Neutralino dark matter......Page 190
6.6 Detection of dark matter......Page 196
6.6.1 Neutralino–nucleon elastic scattering......Page 197
6.6.2 WIMP annihilation in the sun or earth......Page 198
6.7 Exercises......Page 201
Bibliography......Page 202
7.2.1 The horizon problem......Page 204
7.2.2 The flatness problem......Page 206
7.2.3 The unwanted relics problem......Page 207
7.3 Old inflation......Page 208
7.4 New inflation......Page 210
7.5 Reheating after inflation......Page 215
7.6 Inflaton field equations......Page 217
7.7 Density perturbations......Page 219
7.8 A worked example......Page 223
7.9 Complex inflaton field......Page 225
7.10 Chaotic inflation......Page 226
7.11 Hybrid inflation......Page 229
7.12 The spectral index......Page 230
Bibliography......Page 233
8.1 Introduction......Page 235
8.2 Models of supergravity inflation......Page 236
8.3 D-term supergravity inflation......Page 241
8.4 Hybrid inflation in supergravity......Page 243
8.5 Thermal production of gravitinos by reheating......Page 246
8.6 The Polonyi problem......Page 247
8.6.1 Inflaton decays before Polonyi field oscillation......Page 249
8.6.2 Inflaton decays after Polonyi field oscillation......Page 253
Bibliography......Page 257
9.1 Introduction......Page 258
9.2 Dilaton and moduli cosmology......Page 259
9.3 Stabilization of the dilaton......Page 264
9.4 Dilaton or moduli as possible inflatons......Page 268
9.5 Ten-dimensional string cosmology......Page 269
9.6 D-brane inflation......Page 274
9.7 Pre-big-bang cosmology......Page 278
9.8 M-theory cosmology—the ekpyrotic universe......Page 281
9.10 General references......Page 282
10.1 Introduction......Page 284
10.2 Black-hole event horizons......Page 285
10.3 Entropy of black holes......Page 290
10.4 Perturbative microstates in string theory......Page 298
10.5 Extreme black holes......Page 300
10.6 Type II supergravity......Page 302
10.7 Form fields and D-branes......Page 305
10.8 Black holes in string theory......Page 307
10.9 Counting the microstates......Page 312
10.10 Problems......Page 314
Bibliography......Page 316