Bubble Universe Dynamics After Free Passage

TL;DR

This paper investigates the aftermath of bubble collisions in scalar field theories, showing that interactions post-collision can significantly alter the expected free-passage dynamics and affect bubble formation.

Contribution

It provides analysis of post-collision dynamics, highlighting conditions where interactions disrupt free-passage behavior in bubble collisions.

Findings

Interactions can cause deviations from free-passage profiles.

Certain potentials prevent formation of bubbles with different field values.

Post-collision dynamics are more complex than previously modeled.

Abstract

We consider bubble collisions in single scalar field theories with multiple vacua. Recent work has argued that at sufficiently high impact velocities, collisions between such bubble vacua are governed by 'free passage' dynamics in which field interactions can be ignored during the collision, providing a systematic process for populating local minima without quantum nucleation. We focus on the time period that follows the bubble collision and provide evidence that, for certain potentials, interactions can drive significant deviations from the free-passage bubble profile, thwarting the production of bubbles with different field values.