Work

Quantum fields in an expanding universe

Year: 1999

Type: article

Abstract: We extend our analysis for scalar fields in a Robertson-Walker metric to the electromagnetic and Dirac fields by the method of invariants. The issue of the relation between conformal properties and particle production is re-examined and it is verified that the electromagnetic and massless spinor actions are conformal invariant, while the massless conformally coupled scalar field is not. For the scalar field case it is pointed out that the violation of conformal symmetry due to surface terms, although not influential for the equations of motion, does lead to effects in the quantized theory.

Source: Classical and Quantum Gravity

DOI: 10.1088/0264-9381/16/12/310

Authors: F Finelli, A Gruppuso, G Venturi

Institutions: Bologna Research Area, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bologna, University of Bologna

Language: English

Topic: Cosmology and Gravitation Theories

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2069458162

FWCI: 1.379

Cites: 14

Cited by: 46

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