Thermodynamics in the viscous early universe

Abstract

Assuming that the matter in the background geometry is a free gas and that no phase transitions were occurring in the early Universe, we discuss the thermodynamics of this closed system using classical approaches. We find that essential cosmological quantities, such as the Hubble parameter H, the scaling factor a, and the curvature parameter k, can be derived from this simple model, which on one hand fulfills and entirely obeys the laws of thermodynamics, and on the other hand, its results are compatible with the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker model and the Einstein field equations. Including a finite bulk viscosity coefficient leads to important changes in all these cosmological quantities. Accordingly, our picture about the evolution of the Universe and its astrophysical consequences seems to undergoing a radical revision. We find that k strongly depends on the thermodynamics of background matter. The time scale at which negative curvature might take place depends on the relation between the matter content and the total energy. Using quantum and statistical approaches, we introduce expressions for H and the bulk viscosity coefficient ξ.