Phase transitions and the birth of early universe particle physics

Abstract

This paper provides a conceptual history of the development of early universe particle physics in the 1970s, focusing on the development of more sophisticated tools for constructing gauge-theories at finite-temperature. I start with a focus on early investigations into spontaneous symmetry restoration, and continue through the development of functional methods up to equilibrium finite-temperature field theory. I argue that the early universe provides an ideal setting for integrated modelling of thermal, gravitational, and particle physics effects due to its relative simplicity. I further argue that the development of finite-temperature field theory played an important secondary role in the rise of the effective field theory worldview, and investigate the status of the analogies between phase transitions in particle physics and condensed matter physics. I find that the division into “formal” versus “physical” analogies is too coarse-grained to understand the important physical developments at play.