Quantum corrections to scalar field dynamics in a slow-roll space-time

The current central experimental values of the parameters of the Standard Model give rise to a striking conclusion: metastability of the electroweak vacuum is favoured over absolute stability. A metastable vacuum for the Higgs boson implies that it is possible, and in fact inevitable, that a vacuum decay takes place with catastrophic consequences for the Universe. The metastability of the Higgs vacuum is especially significant for cosmology, because there are many mechanisms that could have triggered the decay of the electroweak vacuum in the early Universe. We present a comprehensive review of the implications from Higgs vacuum metastability for cosmology along with a pedagogical discussion of the related theoretical topics, including renormalization group improvement, quantum field theory in curved spacetime and vacuum decay in field theory. arXiv:1809.06923v2 [astro-ph.CO]

show abstract

“…Applications of 2PI techniques to de Sitter space include Refs. [118][119][120][121][122][123][124].…”

Section: Quantum Theory In De Sitter Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Cosmological Aspects of Higgs Vacuum Metastability

Markkanen

Rajantie

Stopyra

2018

Front. Astron. Space Sci.

Self Cite

116

126

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Making generic statements about the behaviour of a spectator field in curved spacetime is unfortunately hindered by the calculational complexity of the problem: deriving the complete effective potential in an arbitrary curved spacetime is in general quite involved and obtaining explicit results requires one to specify the set-up, including making a choice for the background and the quantum state of interest. For examples of such calculations, see [48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55]. There are however some aspects that are universal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The 1-loop effective potential for the Standard Model in curved spacetime

Markkanen

Nurmi

Rajantie

et al. 2018

J. High Energ. Phys.

Self Cite

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The renormalisation group improved Standard Model effective potential in an arbitrary curved spacetime is computed to one loop order in perturbation theory. The loop corrections are computed in the ultraviolet limit, which makes them independent of the choice of the vacuum state and allows the derivation of the complete set of β-functions. The potential depends on the spacetime curvature through the direct non-minimal Higgscurvature coupling, curvature contributions to the loop diagrams, and through the curvature dependence of the renormalisation scale. Together, these lead to significant curvature dependence, which needs to be taken into account in cosmological applications, which is demonstrated with the example of vacuum stability in de Sitter space.

show abstract

“…In de Sitter space when only local diagrams are included as in the Hartree approximation of Fig. 1 one may require that the full propagator merely generates a constant effective mass contribution based on de Sitter invariance, and indeed this assumption allows one to find a solution for (3.1), see for example [40]. For w = −1 when the Hubble rate is no longer a constant this assumption seems less motivated.…”

Section: Non-perturbative Resummationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light scalars on cosmological backgrounds

Markkanen

2018

J. High Energ. Phys.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:We study the behaviour of a light quartically self-interacting scalar field φ on curved backgrounds that may be described with the cosmological equation state parameter w. At leading order in the non-perturbative 2PI expansion we find a general formula for the variance φ 2 and show for several previously unexplored cases, including matter domination and kination, that the curvature of space can induce a significant excitation of the field. We discuss how the generation of a non-zero variance for w = −1 can be understood as a process of self-regulation of the infrared divergences very similarly to what is known to occur in de Sitter space. To conclude, the appearance of an effective mass due to self-interaction is generic for a light scalar in curved space and can have important implications for reheating, vacuum stability and dark matter generation.

show abstract

Quantum corrections to scalar field dynamics in a slow-roll space-time

Cited by 34 publications

References 80 publications

Cosmological Aspects of Higgs Vacuum Metastability

Cosmological Aspects of Higgs Vacuum Metastability

The 1-loop effective potential for the Standard Model in curved spacetime

Light scalars on cosmological backgrounds

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About