QSimFP FVD Seminar: Real-time dynamics of false vacuum decay

ABSTRACT: False vacuum decay is a well-defined initial value problem in (real)
time, in which the system starts from a metastable state that eventually
decays and thermalizes due to fluctuations. It can be formulated in
non-equilibrium quantum field theory on a closed time path and studied
using correlation functions. We simulate the dynamics of a relativistic
scalar field by classical-statistical field theory on a lattice in the
high-temperature regime. In general, we find that the decay rates depend
on time. Furthermore, we show that the decay rates in real time are
comparable to those obtained by the conventional Euclidean (bounce)
approach in the presence of a time-dependent effective potential.
Finally, we show how quantum corrections to the equations of motion of
the one- and two-point correlation functions can lead to transitions
that are not captured by the statistical-classical approximations.

BIOSKETCH: Laura Batini is a PhD student at the Heidelberg University. She studies under Prof. Dr. Jürgen Berges and she is presenting this paper on his behalf. Prior to starting her PhD in 2021, she completed a B.Sc. in Physics at the University of Milan in 2018, as well as a M.Sc. at the Institute of Theoretical Physics at Heidelberg University in 2021. Laura's research interests are Dynamical instabilities, dynamical critical phenomena, functional renormalisation group, ultracold atoms.