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Title: Is the finite temperature effective potential effective for dynamics?
We study the applicability of the finite temperature effective potential in the equation of motion of a homogeneous “misaligned” scalar condensate φ and find important caveats that severely restrict its domain of validity: (i) the of local thermodynamic equilibrium is in general not warranted, (ii) we show a direct relation between the effective potential and the thermodynamic entropy density S = V eff ( T , φ ) / T , which entails that for a dynamical φ ( t ) the entropy becomes a nonmonotonic function of time, (iii) parametric instabilities in both cases with and without spontaneous symmetry breaking lead to profuse particle production with nonthermal distribution functions, (iv) in the case of spontaneous symmetry breaking spinodal instabilities yield a complex effective potential, internal energy and , an untenable situation in thermodynamics. All these caveats associated with using the effective potential in the of the condensate cannot be overcome by finite temperature equilibrium resummation schemes. We argue that the dynamics of the condensate leads to decoupling and freeze-out from local thermodynamic equilibrium, and propose a quantum system approach based on unitary time evolution. It yields the correct equations of motion without the caveats of the effective potential, and provides a fully renormalized and thermodynamically consistent framework to study the dynamics of the “misaligned” condensate, with real and conserved energy and entropy amenable to numerical study. The evolution of the condensate leads to profuse with nonthermal distribution functions. Possible emergent asymptotic nonthermal states and eventual rethermalization are conjectured. Published by the American Physical Society2025  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2412374
PAR ID:
10596860
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Corporate Creator(s):
Editor(s):
Tirziu, Alin
Publisher / Repository:
physical review d
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Physical Review D
Edition / Version:
1
Volume:
111
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2470-0010
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1-25
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: 25 pages Other: pdf
Size(s):
25 pages
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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