Quantum field theory of relic nonequilibrium systems

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum field theoretical framework for relic nonequilibrium systems from the early universe, exploring how such systems could survive and manifest today through explicit calculations and potential experimental signatures.

Contribution

It introduces a field-theoretical model of relic quantum nonequilibrium systems and demonstrates how nonequilibrium can transfer between fields and affect observable spectra.

Findings

Quantum nonequilibrium can survive to the present in relic systems.

Perturbative couplings transfer nonequilibrium between fields.

Nonequilibrium states produce anomalous energy spectra.

Abstract

In terms of the de Broglie-Bohm pilot-wave formulation of quantum theory, we develop field-theoretical models of quantum nonequilibrium systems which could exist today as relics from the very early universe. We consider relic excited states generated by inflaton decay, as well as relic vacuum modes, for particle species that decoupled close to the Planck temperature. Simple estimates suggest that, at least in principle, quantum nonequilibrium could survive to the present day for some relic systems. The main focus of this paper is to describe the behaviour of such systems in terms of field theory, with the aim of understanding how relic quantum nonequilibrium might manifest experimentally. We show by explicit calculation that simple perturbative couplings will transfer quantum nonequilibrium from one field to another (for example from the inflaton field to its decay products). We also show that fields in a state of quantum nonequilibrium will generate anomalous spectra for standard energy measurements. Possible connections to current astrophysical observations are briefly addressed.