Finite temperature spectral function of the σ meson from large N expansion

The spectral function of the scalar-isoscalar channel of the O(N) symmetric linear $\sigma$ model is studied in the broken symmetry phase. The investigation is based on the leading order evaluation of the self-energy in the limit of large number of Goldstone bosons. We describe its temperature dependent variation in the whole low temperature phase. This variation closely reflects the trajectory of the scalar-isoscalar quasiparticle pole. In the model with no explicit chiral symmetry breaking we have studied near the critical point also the corresponding dynamical exponent.