Phase transitions in the embryo Universe
- 15 October 1982
- journal article
- Published by The Royal Society in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences
- Vol. 307 (1497) , 141-148
- https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1982.0107
Abstract
Grand unified theories suggest that one or more phase transitions should occur when k T ≈ 10 14 GeV (T ≈ 10 27 K), which in standard cosmology would have occurred at t ≈ 10 -35 s. If such a transition happens quickly, then an unacceptably large number of magnetic monopoles would be produced. A slow transition would lead to an inflationary Universe, providing a possible solution to the horizon and flatness problems. However, the inflationary scenario requires a mechanism to trigger the phase transition. A suggestion made independently by Linde and by Albrecht & Steinhardt appears promising, but the details have not yet been worked out.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
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- Unity of All Elementary-Particle ForcesPhysical Review Letters, 1974