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      Particle decays and stability on the de Sitter universe

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          Abstract

          We study particle decay in de Sitter space-time as given by first order perturbation theory in a Lagrangian interacting quantum field theory. We study in detail the adiabatic limit of the perturbative amplitude and compute the "phase space" coefficient exactly in the case of two equal particles produced in the disintegration. We show that for fields with masses above a critical mass \(m_c\) there is no such thing as particle stability, so that decays forbidden in flat space-time do occur here. The lifetime of such a particle also turns out to be independent of its velocity when that lifetime is comparable with de Sitter radius. Particles with mass lower than critical have a completely different behavior: the masses of their decay products must obey quantification rules, and their lifetime is zero.

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          Quantum field theory in the de sitter universe

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            Two-point Functions and Quantum Fields in de Sitter Universe

            We present a theory of general two-point functions and of generalized free fields in d-dimensional de Sitter space-time which closely parallels the corresponding minkowskian theory. The usual spectral condition is now replaced by a certain geodesic spectral condition, equivalent to a precise thermal characterization of the corresponding ``vacuum''states. Our method is based on the geometry of the complex de Sitter space-time and on the introduction of a class of holomorphic functions on this manifold, called perikernels, which reproduce mutatis mutandis the structural properties of the two-point correlation functions of the minkowskian quantum field theory. The theory contains as basic elementary case the linear massive field models in their ``preferred'' representation. The latter are described by the introduction of de Sitter plane waves in their tube domains which lead to a new integral representation of the two-point functions and to a Fourier-Laplace type transformation on the hyperboloid. The Hilbert space structure of these theories is then analysed by using this transformation. In particular we show the Reeh-Schlieder property. For general two-point functions, a substitute to the Wick rotation is defined both in complex space-time and in the complex mass variable, and substantial results concerning the derivation of Kallen-Lehmann type representation are obtained.
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              Particle decay during inflation: self-decay of inflaton quantum fluctuations during slow roll

              Particle decay during inflation is studied by implementing a dynamical renormalization group resummation combined with a small Delta expansion. Delta measures the deviation from the scale invariant power spectrum and regulates the infrared. In slow roll inflation, Delta is a simple function of the slow roll parameters epsilon_V, eta_V.We find that quantum fluctuations can self-decay as a consequence of the inflationary expansion through processes which are forbidden in Minkowski space-time. We compute the self-decay of the inflaton quantum fluctuations during slow roll inflation.For wavelengths deep inside the Hubble radius the decay is enhanced by the emission of ultrasoft collinear quanta, i.e. bremsstrahlung radiation of superhorizon quanta which becomes the leading decay channel for physical wavelengths H 3.6 10^{-9}.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                18 December 2008
                2009-04-02
                Article
                10.1007/s00023-010-0042-7
                0812.3513
                9c8e3cc8-4999-48ea-aa8b-47150fc919d4

                http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/

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                Annales Henri Poincare 11:611-658,2010
                Latex, 38 pages, 1 PostScript figure; added references, minor corrections and remarks
                hep-th

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