A conformal field theory for eternal inflation?

Ben Freivogel, Matthew Kleban

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We study a statistical model defined by a conformally invariant distribution of overlapping spheres in arbitrary dimension d. The model arises as the asymptotic distribution of cosmic bubbles in d+1 dimensional de Sitter space, and also as the asymptotic distribution of bubble collisions with the domain wall of a fiducial ''observation bubble'' in d+2 dimensional de Sitter space. In this note we calculate the 2-, 3-, and 4-point correlation functions of exponentials of the ''bubble number operator'' analytically in d = 2. We find that these correlators are free of infrared divergences, covariant under the global conformal group, charge conserving, and transform with positive conformal dimensions that are related in a novel way to the charge. Although by themselves these operators probably do not define a full-fledged conformal field theory, one can use the partition function on a sphere to compute an approximate central charge in the 2D case. The theory in any dimension has a noninteracting limit when the nucleation rate of the bubbles in the bulk is very large. The theory in two dimensions is related to some models of continuum percolation, but it is conformal for all values of the tunneling rate.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Article number019
    JournalJournal of High Energy Physics
    Volume2009
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2009

    Keywords

    • Conformal field Models in string Theory
    • DS vacua in string theory
    • Gauge-gravity correspondence
    • Space-time symmetries

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A conformal field theory for eternal inflation?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this