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Symmetry restoration and vacuum decay from accretion around black holes

Authors :
Marsden, James
Aurrekoetxea, Josu C.
Clough, Katy
Ferreira, Pedro G.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Vacuum decay and symmetry breaking play an important role in the fundamental structure of the matter and the evolution of the universe. In this work we study how the purely classical effect of accretion of fundamental fields onto black holes can lead to shells of symmetry restoration in the midst of a symmetry broken phase. We also show how it can catalyze vacuum decay, forming a bubble that expands asymptotically at the speed of light. These effects offer an alternative, purely classical mechanism to quantum tunnelling for seeding phase transitions in the universe.<br />Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 movie: https://youtu.be/c2vcNoX8fVs Comments welcome!

Details

Database :
arXiv
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.2403.17595
Document Type :
Working Paper