Physics – High Energy Physics – High Energy Physics - Theory
Scientific paper
2011-12-19
Physics
High Energy Physics
High Energy Physics - Theory
37 pages, 26 figures. Accepted to PRD, replaced with minor corrections to match published version
Scientific paper
Cosmic bubble collisions provide an important possible observational window on the dynamics of eternal inflation. In eternal inflation, our observable universe is contained in one of many bubbles formed from an inflating metastable vacuum. The collision between bubbles can leave a detectable imprint on the cosmic microwave background radiation. Although phenomenological models of the observational signature have been proposed, to make the theory fully predictive one must determine the bubble collision spacetime, and thus the cosmological observables, from a scalar field theory giving rise to eternal inflation. Because of the intrinsically non-linear nature of the bubbles and their collision, this requires a numerical treatment incorporating General Relativity. In this paper, we present results from numerical simulations of bubble collisions in full General Relativity. These simulations allow us to accurately determine the outcome of bubble collisions, and examine their effect on the cosmology inside a bubble universe. We confirm the validity of a number of approximations used in previous analytic work, and identify qualitatively new features of bubble collision spacetimes. Both vacuum bubbles and bubbles containing a realistic inflationary cosmology are studied. We identify the constraints on the scalar field potential that must be satisfied in order to obtain collisions that are consistent with our observed cosmology, yet leave detectable signatures.
Johnson Matthew C.
Lehner Luis
Peiris Hiranya V.
No associations
LandOfFree
Determining the outcome of cosmic bubble collisions in full General Relativity does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Determining the outcome of cosmic bubble collisions in full General Relativity, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Determining the outcome of cosmic bubble collisions in full General Relativity will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-53783