Events: detail
Theoretical Physics Group Seminar: Semiclassical decay of topological defects
- Hosted by:
- Imperial College Department of Physics
- Speaker:
-
Szabolcs Borsanyi, Sussex
- Starts:
- February 12, 2008 at 02:00 pm
- Ends:
- February 12, 2008 at 03:00 pm
- Location:
- Imperial College London, Huxley Building, Seminar Room H503, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ United Kingdom
- Maps:
Description
Perturbative estimates suggest that extended topological defects such as cosmic strings emit few particles, but numerical simulations of the fields from which they are constructed suggest the opposite. In this paper we study the decay of the two-dimensional prototype of strings, domain walls in a simple scalar theory, solving the underlying quantum field theory in the Hartree approximation. We conclude that including the quantum effects makes the picture clear: the defects do not directly transform into particles, but there is a non-perturbative channel to microscopic classical structures in the form of propagating waves and persistent localised oscillations, which operates over a huge separation of scales. When quantum effects are included, the microscopic classical structures can decay into particles.
- Registration required:
- No
- Free:
- Yes
Additional information
Group Seminars
These are held on Tuesdays at 2pm in H503, the seminar room in the Theoretical Physics group, level 5 of the Huxley building (directions). The talks are aimed to be more accessible than usual research seminars, and their topics range over all aspects of the group’s research and beyond. PhD and MSc students are encouraged to attend them.
Tea, cake and coffee will follow!
For more information
- Contact person:
- Toby Wiseman
- Email:
- t.wiseman [ at ] imperial.ac.uk
- Website:
- Theoretical Physics Group Seminar: Semiclassical decay of topological defects
