Phase transitions in De Sitter space

This paper uses zeta-function regularisation to calculate the one-loop functional determinants for fields of any spin in De Sitter space. As an example, we investigate the Coleman-Weinberg spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism in massless scalar electrodynamics. The effective potential is calculated in Landau gauge. It depends upon the curvature, and upon the renormalised value of ζ (inζRφ²). The phase transition will be first or second order, and the critical curvature and mass are found. The methods can be applied to any gauge theory.