Out-of-equilibrium evolution of quantum fields in the hybrid model with quantum back reaction

Abstract

The hybrid model with a scalar "inflaton" field coupled to a "Higgs" field with a broken symmetry potential is one of the promising models for inflation and (p)reheating after inflation. We consider the nonequilibrium evolution of the quantum fields of this model with quantum back reaction in the Hartree approximation, in particular the transition of the Higgs field from the metastable "false vacuum" to the broken symmetry phase. We have performed the renormalization of the equations of motion, of the gap equations and of the energy density, using dimensional regularization. We study the influence of the back reaction on the evolution of the classical fields and of the quantum fluctuations. We observe that back reaction plays an important role over a wide range of parameters. Some implications of our investigation for the preheating stage after cosmic inflation are presented.