Instability of Higgs Vacuum via String Cloud

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a cloud of cosmic strings can significantly accelerate the decay of the Higgs vacuum, linking theoretical catalysis effects to observational constraints on cosmic strings.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of string cloud catalysis of Higgs vacuum decay and derives bounds on Higgs potential parameters from cosmic string observations.

Findings

String clouds can greatly enhance Higgs vacuum decay rates.

A critical energy density triggers semi-classical vacuum decay.

Observational limits on cosmic strings constrain Higgs potential parameters.

Abstract

We study the instability of the Higgs vacuum caused by a cloud of strings. By catalysis, the decay rate of the vacuum is highly enhanced and, when the energy density of the cloud is larger than the critical value, a semi-classical vacuum decay occurs. We also discuss the relation between the string cloud and observational constraints on the cosmic strings from the viewpoint of the catalysis, which are converted into bounds on the parameters of the Higgs potential.