Isotropization of a Rotating and Longitudinally Expanding <i>ϕ</i>⁴ Scalar System

Abstract

We study numerically the evolution of an expanding system of scalar fields. The initial configuration is non-isotropic and rotating. We calculate the energy–momentum tensor and angular momentum vector of the system. We compare the time scales associated with the isotropization of the transverse and longitudinal pressures, and the decay of the initial angular momentum. We show that even a fairly large initial angular momentum decays significantly faster than the pressure anisotropy.

Keywords

• isotropization
• plasmas
• angular momentum