On hot bangs and the arrow of time in relativistic quantum field theory
Buchholz, Detlev
arXiv, 0301115 / Harvested from arXiv
Text on arXiv
A recently proposed method for the characterization and analysis of local equilibrium states in relativistic quantum field theory is applied to a simple model. Within this model states are identified which are locally (but not globally) in thermal equilibrium and it is shown that their local thermal properties evolve according to macroscopic equations. The largest space-time regions in which local equilibrium states can exist are timelike cones. Thus, although the model does not describe dissipative effects, such states fix in a natural manner a time direction. Moreover, generically they determine a distinguished space-time point where a singularity in the temperature (a hot bang) must have occurred if local equilibrium prevailed thereafter. The results illustrate how the breaking of the time reflection symmetry at macroscopic scales manifests itself in a microscopic setting.
Publié le : 2003-01-16
Classification:  High Energy Physics - Theory,  General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology,  High Energy Physics - Phenomenology,  Mathematical Physics 
@article{0301115,
     author = {Buchholz, Detlev},
     title = {On hot bangs and the arrow of time in relativistic quantum field theory},
     journal = {arXiv},
     volume = {2003},
     number = {0},
     year = {2003},
     language = {en},
     url = {http://dml.mathdoc.fr/item/0301115}
}

Buchholz, Detlev. On hot bangs and the arrow of time in relativistic quantum field theory. arXiv, Tome 2003 (2003) no. 0, . http://gdmltest.u-ga.fr/item/0301115/