Particle Creation in Kaluza-Klein Cosmology

Abstract

We exactly calculate the particle number $N$ of scalar fields which are created from an initial vacuum in certain higher-dimensional cosmological models. The spacetimes in these models are the four-dimensional Chitre-Hartle or radiation-dominated universe with extra spaces which are static or power-law contracting. Except for some models in which no particles could be produced, the distribution of created particles shows a thermal behavior, at least in the limit of high three-dimensional "momentum" $k$. In some models, $N$ does not depend on the magnitude of the extra-dimensional "momentum" $k_c$ if $k_c$ is nonvanishing. A cutoff momentum $k_c$ may emerge in some models, and particles with $k\le k_c$ could not be produced. We also discuss these results.