Wormhole creation by quantum tunnelling

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum tunnelling in scalar field theories with non-minimal gravity coupling can lead to wormhole formation, highlighting the role of gravitational instantons and null energy condition violations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that non-minimal coupling allows gravitational instantons to develop necks, enabling wormhole nucleation, a feature absent in minimally coupled theories.

Findings

Neck geometries are linked to null energy condition violations.

Non-minimal coupling enables wormhole formation via quantum tunnelling.

Gravitational instantons with necks are identified as key to this process.

Abstract

We study the process of quantum tunnelling in self-interacting scalar field theories with non-minimal coupling to gravity. In these theories gravitational instantons can develop a neck -- a feature prohibited in theories with minimal coupling, and describing the nucleation of geometries containing a wormhole. We also clarify the relationship of neck geometries to violations of the null energy condition.