Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2-2001

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

Abstract

We reconsider the old problem of the dynamics of spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) using 3D lattice simulations. We develop a theory of tachyonic preheating, which occurs due to the spinodal instability of the scalar field. Tachyonic preheating is so efficient that SSB typically completes within a single oscillation as the field rolls towards the minimum of its effective potential. We show that, contrary to previous expectations, preheating in hybrid inflation is typically tachyonic. Our results may also be relevant for the theory of the formation of topological defects and of disoriented chiral condensates in heavy ion collisions.

Volume

87

Issue

1

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.011601

Rights

© 2001 The American Physical Society

Comments

Archived as published.

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