DOI 10.1007/s100529900242
Analytical calculation of the nucleation rate for first order phase transitions beyond the thin wall approximation
Institut für Theoretische Physik I,
Universität Münster,
Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 9, 48149 Münster, Germany
(e-mail: munsteg@uni-muenster.de)
Received: 18 August 1999 / Published online: 14 October 1999
Abstract
First order phase transitions in general proceed via nucleation of
bubbles. A theoretical basis for the calculation of the nucleation rate
is given by the homogeneous nucleation theory of Langer and its field
theoretical version of Callan and Coleman. We have calculated the
nucleation rate beyond the thin wall approximation by expanding the
bubble solution and the fluctuation determinant in powers of the
asymmetry parameter. The result is expressed in terms of physical model
parameters.
Copyright Springer-Verlag 2000
