Instability of flat space at finite temperature
- 15 January 1982
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review D
- Vol. 25 (2), 330-355
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.25.330
Abstract
The instabilities of quantum gravity are investigated using the path-integral formulation of Einstein's theory. A brief review is given of the classical gravitational instabilities, as well as the stability of flat space. The Euclidean path-integral representation of the partition function is employed to discuss the instability of flat space at finite temperature. Semiclassical, or saddle-point, approximations are utilized. We show how the Jeans instability arises as a tachyon in the graviton propagator when small perturbations about hot flat space are considered. The effect due to the Schwarzschild instanton is studied. The small fluctuations about this instanton are analyzed and a negative mode is discovered. This produces, in the semiclassical approximation, an imaginary part of the free energy. This is interpreted as being due to the metastability of hot flat space to nucleate black holes. These then evolve by evaporation or by accretion of thermal gravitons, leading to the instability of hot flat space. The nucleation rate of black holes is calculated as a function of temperature.Keywords
This publication has 51 references indexed in Scilit:
- A new proof of the positive energy theoremCommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1981
- Proof of the positive mass theorem. IICommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1981
- Proof of the Positive-Action Conjecture in Quantum RelativityPhysical Review Letters, 1979
- On the proof of the positive mass conjecture in general relativityCommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1979
- Bounds on the mass and moment of inertia of non-rotating neutron starsPhysics Reports, 1978
- Path integrals and the indefiniteness of the gravitational actionNuclear Physics B, 1978
- The singularities of gravitational collapse and cosmologyProceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 1970
- Statistical theory of the decay of metastable statesAnnals of Physics, 1969
- Theory of the condensation pointAnnals of Physics, 1967
- On Massive Neutron CoresPhysical Review B, 1939