Big bang as a topological quantum phase transition
F. R. Klinkhamer, G. E. Volovik
Abstract
It has been argued that a particular type of quantum-vacuum variable $q$ can provide a solution to the main cosmological constant problem and possibly also give a cold-dark-matter component. We now show that the same $q$ field may suggest a new interpretation of the big bang, namely as a quantum phase transition between topologically inequivalent vacua. These two vacua are characterized by the equilibrium values $q=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}{q}_{0}$, and there is a kink-type solution $q(t)$ interpolating between $q=\ensuremath{-}{q}_{0}$ for $t\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\infty}$ and $q=+{q}_{0}$ for $t\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$, with conformal symmetry for $q=0$ at $t=0$.