Standard model vacuum decay with gravity
File(s)
Author(s)
Stopyra, Stephen
Type
Thesis
Abstract
I present a study of the vacuum instability problem in the Standard Model, with particular
emphasis on the effect of gravitational corrections on this process. This covers four main effects:
(1) gravitational back-reaction of nucleating bubbles and their associated bounce solutions,
which alters the decay rate; (2) the nucleation of true vacuum bubbles in an inflationary
background; (3) the effect of non-flat backgrounds on the running of the Standard Model
couplings; and (4) the effect of non-minimal Higgs-curvature coupling on decay rates in the
Standard Model. The key result presented is the discovery of previously unseen bounce solutions
contributing to Standard Model vacuum decay during inflation.
emphasis on the effect of gravitational corrections on this process. This covers four main effects:
(1) gravitational back-reaction of nucleating bubbles and their associated bounce solutions,
which alters the decay rate; (2) the nucleation of true vacuum bubbles in an inflationary
background; (3) the effect of non-flat backgrounds on the running of the Standard Model
couplings; and (4) the effect of non-minimal Higgs-curvature coupling on decay rates in the
Standard Model. The key result presented is the discovery of previously unseen bounce solutions
contributing to Standard Model vacuum decay during inflation.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2018-08
Date Awarded
2018-12
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivatives Licence
Advisor
Rajantie, Arttu
Sponsor
Imperial College London
Publisher Department
Physics
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)