Cosmological Phase Transitions: From Particles to Waves
The topic "Cosmological Phase Transitions: From Particles to Waves" delves into the fundamental processes shaping the universe's evolution, particularly during early cosmological epochs. Here's an outline to explore this subject comprehensively: 1. Introduction Cosmological Phase Transitions: Definition and importance in the evolution of the universe. Overview of the transition from a particle-dominated to a wave-dominated framework. Role of the Standard Model of particle physics and extensions like Grand Unified Theories (GUTs). 2. Theoretical Framework Quantum Fields and Symmetry Breaking: Higgs mechanism and spontaneous symmetry breaking. Importance of vacuum states and potential energy landscapes. Early Universe Context: Energy scales (GUT, Electroweak, QCD). Fundamental forces unification and separation. 3. Types of Cosmological Phase Transitions First-Order Phase Transitions: Bubble nucleation and expansion. Implications for baryogenesis and gravitational wav...