Quick search Find article
Quick search
Find article

Classical approximation to quantum cosmological correlations

Meindert van der Meulen and Jan Smit

Show affiliations


We investigate up to which order quantum effects can be neglected in calculating cosmological correlation functions after horizon exit. We study, as a toy model, phi3 theory on a de Sitter background for a massless minimally coupled scalar field phi. We find that for tree level and one loop contributions in the quantum theory, a good classical approximation can be constructed, but for higher loop corrections this is in general not expected to be possible. The reason is that loop corrections get non-negligible contributions from loop momenta with magnitude up to the Hubble scale H, at which scale classical physics is not expected to be a good approximation to the quantum theory. An explicit calculation of the one loop correction to the two point function supports the argument that contributions from loop momenta of scale H are not negligible. Generalization of the arguments for the toy model to derivative interactions and the curvature perturbation leads to the conclusion that the leading orders of non-Gaussian effects generated after horizon exit can be approximated quite well by classical methods. Furthermore we compare with a theorem of Weinberg. We find that growing loop corrections after horizon exit are not excluded, even in single field inflation.


Keywords

quantum field theory on curved space

CMBR theory

inflation

physics of the early universe

 

E-print Number: 0707.0842

Cited: by |

Refers: to

PACS

98.80.Qc Quantum cosmology

98.80.Es Observational cosmology (including Hubble constant, distance scale, cosmological constant, early Universe, etc)

98.80.Cq Particle-theory and field-theory models of the early Universe (including cosmic pancakes, cosmic strings, chaotic phenomena, inflationary universe, etc.)

Subjects

Gravitation and cosmology

Astrophysics and astroparticles

Dates

Issue 11 (November 2007)

Received 12 July 2007, accepted for publication 2 November 2007

Published 22 November 2007



  1. Classical approximation to quantum cosmological correlations

    Meindert van der Meulen and Jan Smit JCAP11(2007)023

  2. FOCUS ON HIGH ENERGY COSMIC RAYS

    Masahiro Teshima and Alan A Watson 2009 New J. Phys. 11 065007

  3. An experimentally validated bimorph cantilever model for piezoelectric energy harvesting from base excitations

    A Erturk and D J Inman 2009 Smart Mater. Struct. 18 025009

  4. Measurement of electronic structure from high harmonic generation in non-adiabatically aligned polyatomic molecules

    N Kajumba et al 2008 New J. Phys. 10 025008

  5. Measuring measurement: theory and practice

    A Feito et al 2009 New J. Phys. 11 093038

  6. High intensity laser-plasma sources of ions—physics and future applications

    K Krushelnick et al 2005 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 47 B451

  7. Manufacturing of a micro-tungsten carbide electrode using a supersonic-aided electrolysis process

    Feng-Tsai Weng and Chi-Ting Ho 2008 J. Micromech. Microeng. 18 037001

  8. Quasi-periodic waves and an asymptotic property for the asymmetrical Nizhnik–Novikov–Veselov equation

    Engui Fan 2009 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 42 095206

  9. The equivalent size of cloud condensation nuclei

    Antonio Celani et al 2008 New J. Phys. 10 075021

  10. Final report of EUROMET Project 696: pH determination of a phthalate buffer

    Petra Spitzer et al 2005 Metrologia 42 08001

View by subject




Export








Please login to access our web services, or create an account if you don't yet have one.

You must have cookies enabled in your web browser to be able to login.

Username
Password

Forgotten your password? Get a new one here.