Nucleation of relativistic first-order phase transitions.

Abstract

We apply the general formalism of Langer to compute the nucleation rate for systems of relativistic particles with a zero or small baryon-number density and which undergo first-order phase transitions. In particular, we obtain an expression for the pre-exponential factor and it is proportional to the viscosity. The initial growth rate of a critical size bubble or droplet is limited by the ability of dissipative processes to transport latent heat away from the surface.