Abstract
We compute the quantum fluctuations of a non-self-interacting but unstable scalar field of arbitrary mass during the period of inflation. Instead of treating the scalar field in a static De Sitter space, we begin with a scalar field in the Friedmann universe just before the start of inflation, and work out the dynamics of the growing quantum fluctuation of the field after it has entered into the inflationary epoch. We use the physically sensible method of Vilenkin to regularize the theory. We find that in all but two special cases the fluctuations produced are different from those in a static De Sitter space, and the effect of the finite width of the scalar field limits the growth of fluctuations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 713-727 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Nuclear Physics, Section B |
| Volume | 303 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 11 1988 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We would like to thank F. Graziani and Y. Hosotani for useful conversations. The work of K.E. was supportedi n part by the Emil Aaltonen Foundation.T he work of K.A.O. was supportedin part by a PresidentiaYl oung InvestigatorA ward. The work of K.A.O. and K.W.N. was supportedi n part by DOE grant no. DE-AC02-83ER-40105.