Stability, Higgs Boson Mass and New Physics

TL;DR

This paper examines how new physics interactions can significantly influence the stability of the electroweak vacuum in the Standard Model, especially in light of the 126 GeV Higgs boson discovery, challenging previous claims.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the stability of the electroweak vacuum is highly sensitive to new physics interactions, contrary to prior assertions.

Findings

New physics can drastically reduce the vacuum lifetime.

The stability depends strongly on the nature of additional interactions.

Previous claims of vacuum stability may need revision.

Abstract

When the particle with mass $\sim 126$ GeV discovered at LHC is identified with the Higgs boson of the Standard Model, intriguing and challenging questions arise. Among them, the issue of the EW vacuum stability. We find that, despite claims to the contrary, the latter strongly depends on new physics interactions. In particular, if $\tau$ is the lifetime of the EW vacuum, new physics can turn $\tau$ from $\tau >> T_U$ to $\tau << T_U$, where $T_U$ is the age of the Universe.