Physics – Condensed Matter – Statistical Mechanics
Scientific paper
Jan 1982
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982phya..110....1d&link_type=abstract
Physica A, Volume 110, Issue 1-2, p. 1-40.
Physics
Condensed Matter
Statistical Mechanics
5
Scientific paper
The study raises the question - whether the use of traditional statistical mechanical concepts is legitimate in the early epochs of the development of the universe (from ~10-40s after the big bang, until about 10-30s). Several current procedures are examined in detail; the use of the equilibrium notion, the use of Boltzmann-like rate equations, the use of ideas from the theory of phase transitions. It is stressed that from the general viewpoint of statistical mechanics there is no convincing evidence that dynamical systems described by spontaneously broken gauge theories necessarily approach equilibrium. Techniques are suggested whereby this question might be approached.
It is noted that the usual treatment by starting from the assumption of a homogeneous, isotropic universe is in principle incapable of discussing local non-equilibrium features. It is very questionable whether this assumption is valid for the epochs considered.
Attention is called to the circumstance that if the phase transition picture is taken literally, the presence of both fermions and bosons indicates that a consistent treatment requires the existence of a critical line Tc(ξ), rather than a critical temperature. ξ is the ratio of the Fermi to Bose concentrations. This might well alter the qualitative picture of successive stages in the development of the universe.
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