Quantum field theory in a de Sitter universe transiting to the radiation stage

Abstract: We study some physical aspects of quantum field theory in a two stage universe starting from the inflationary de Sitter and transiting into the radiation dominated stage. We look into the time evolution of the primordial vacuum states, associated with the (i) comoving and (ii) Bunch-Davies modes. We show how the power spectrum for a comoving observer, obtained from the excitation of the aforementioned states defined in the de Sitter stage, changes as the universe transits into the radiation stage. In addition, we also develop a methodology to transfer the well known result of particle creation in the static de Sitter frame, originating from the aforementioned vacuum states, while the universe makes a transition to the next (radiation dominated) stage.