Speaker
Description
Excellent progress has been made in developing high-level modelling of the gravitational wave power spectrum from early universe phase transitions. This progress has been made possible in part by large-scale simulations of bubble collisions. However, challenges remain, particularly in understanding and modelling the development of nonlinearities, including shocks and turbulence, which become increasingly important for strong phase transitions. Phenomena such as hot droplets can also affect the outcome of the phase transition. I will present the results of recent relativistic hydrodynamical studies of nonlinear effects encountered during and after first-order thermal phase transitions, and discuss how the results can inform theoretical understanding and future analytical models of the resulting gravitational wave power spectra.
