title: Phase transitions from preheating in gauge theories
abstract: We show by studying the Abelian Higgs model with numerical lattice simulations that nonthermal phase transitions arising out of preheating after inflation are possible in gauge-Higgs models under rather general circumstances. This may lead to the formation of gauged topological defects and, if the scale at which inflation ends is low enough, to electroweak baryogenesis after preheating.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Theoretical Physics, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QJ, United Kingdom.
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajantie
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Copeland