Affleck-Dine condensate, late thermalization and the gravitino problem

TL;DR

This paper proves that the decay of an Affleck-Dine condensate is primarily perturbative due to conserved charges, supporting delayed thermalization as a solution to the gravitino problem in cosmology.

Contribution

It establishes a no-go theorem showing conserved global charges prevent non-perturbative decay, reaffirming delayed thermalization's role in addressing the gravitino overproduction issue.

Findings

Net baryon/lepton number in the condensate is conserved.

Total particle number density cannot decrease in a rotating condensate.

Perturbative decay remains the dominant decay mode.

Abstract

In this clarifying note we discuss the late decay of an Affleck-Dine condensate by providing a no-go theorem that attributes to conserved global charges which are identified by the net particle number in fields which are included in the flat direction(s). For a rotating condensate, this implies that: (1) the net baryon/lepton number density stored in the condensate is always conserved, and (2) the total particle number density in the condensate cannot decrease. This reiterates that, irrespective of possible non-perturbative particle production due to $D$-terms in a multiple flat direction case, the prime decay mode of an Affleck-Dine condensate will be perturbative as originally envisaged. As a result, cosmological consequences of flat directions such as delayed thermalization as a novel solution to the gravitino overproduction problem will remain virtually intact.