Quantum fields in an expanding universe

Citation
F. Finelli et al., Quantum fields in an expanding universe, CLASS QUANT, 16(12), 1999, pp. 3923-3935
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY
ISSN journal
02649381 → ACNP
Volume
16
Issue
12
Year of publication
1999
Pages
3923 - 3935
Database
ISI
SICI code
0264-9381(199912)16:12<3923:QFIAEU>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
We extend our analysis for scalar fields in a Robertson-Walker metric to th e electromagnetic and Dirac fields by the method of invariants. The issue o f the relation between conformal properties and particle production is re-e xamined and it is verified that the electromagnetic and massless spinor act ions are conformal invariant, while the massless conformally coupled scalar field is not. For the scalar field case it is pointed out that the violati on of conformal symmetry due to surface terms, although not influential for the equations of motion, does lead to effects in the quantized theory.