Work

Symmetry restoration, tunneling, and the null energy condition

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: A finite volume allows tunneling between degenerate vacua in quantum field theory, and leads to remarkable energetic features, arising from the competition of different saddle points in the partition function. We describe this competition for finite temperature at equilibrium, taking into account both static and (Euclidean) time-dependent saddle points. The effective theory for the homogeneous order parameter yields a nonextensive vacuum energy at low temperatures, implying a dynamical violation of the null energy condition.

Source: Physical review. D/Physical review. D.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.106.065008

Authors: Jean Alexandre, Janos Polonyi

Institution: King's College London

Language: English

Topic: Cosmology and Gravitation Theories

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Leverhulme Trust, Science and Technology Facilities Council

Awards: G1426966614, Pathways between Fundamental Physics and Phenomenology