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Gravity and the Stability of the Higgs Vacuum

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Ian MossORCiD

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Abstract

We discuss the effect of gravitational interactions on the lifetime of the Higgs vacuum where generic quantum gravity corrections are taken into account. Using a "thin-wall" approximation, we provide a proof of principle that small black holes can act as seeds for vacuum decay, spontaneously nucleating a new Higgs phase centered on the black hole with a lifetime measured in millions of Planck times rather than billions of years. The corresponding parameter space constraints are, however, extremely stringent; therefore, we also present numerical evidence suggesting that with thick walls, the parameter space may open up. Implications for collider black holes are discussed.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Burda P, Gregory R, Moss IG

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Physical Review Letters

Year: 2015

Volume: 115

Issue: 7

Print publication date: 14/08/2015

Online publication date: 13/08/2015

Acceptance date: 17/07/2015

Date deposited: 19/01/2016

ISSN (print): 0031-9007

ISSN (electronic): 1079-7114

Publisher: American Physical Society

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.071303

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.071303

Notes: arXiv:1501.04937v2 green open access

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