Effects of the cosmological expansion on the bubble nucleation rate for relativistic first-order phase transitions

TL;DR

This paper calculates how the universe's expansion affects the rate at which bubbles form during a relativistic first-order phase transition, providing corrections to existing models and discussing broader implications.

Contribution

It introduces first-order corrections to the bubble nucleation rate considering cosmological expansion effects, extending Langer's theory to an expanding universe context.

Findings

Expansion rate influences bubble nucleation dynamics

Corrections modify previous estimates of decay rates

Implications for cosmological phase transition models

Abstract

I calculate the first corrections to the dynamical pre-exponential factor of the bubble nucleation rate for a relativistic first-order phase transition in an expanding cosmological background by estimating the effects of the Hubble expansion rate on the critical bubbles of Langer's statistical theory of metastability. I also comment on possible applications and problems that arise when one considers the field theoretical extensions of these results (the Coleman-De Luccia and Hawking-Moss instantons and decay rates).