Fate of the false vacuum: Semiclassical theory

1977/05/15 by Sidney Coleman · 1 voice · 266 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Gas Dynamics and Kinetic Theory #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect

paper · doi:10.1103/physrevd.15.2929

openalex publication_date 1977/05/15 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02

Abstract

It is possible for a classical field theory to have two homogeneous stable equilibrium states with different energy densities. In the quantum version of the theory, the state of higher energy density becomes unstable through barrier penetration; it is a false vacuum. This is the first of two papers developing the qualitative and quantitative semiclassical theory of the decay of such a false vacuum for theories of a single scalar field with nonderivative interactions. In the limit of vanishing energy density between the two ground states, it is possible to obtain explicit expressions for the relevant quantities to leading order in h; in the more general case, the problem can be reduced to solving a single nonlinear ordinary differential equation.

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Discussions

• In the recent paper False Vacuum Decay Rate From Thin To Thick Walls , it is shown that in 4 dimensions, the bounce action is given by : $$S = \frac{2\pi^2 m^2}{4\eta^2}\frac{1}{6\epsilon_{\alpha}^3}\ [stackexchange, 2 points]

Related

• Fate of the false vacuum. II. First quantum corrections
• Semiclassical calculation of an induced decay of false vacuum
• Fate of the False Vacuum Revisited
• Fate of false vacuum in non-perturbative regimes
• False vacuum as an unstable state: possible cosmological implications