Compact space catalysis of false vacuum decay and Schwinger effect

TL;DR

This paper investigates how compact spatial dimensions influence false vacuum decay, revealing a new bounce solution that enhances decay rates and exhibits a transition from homogeneous to quasi-homogeneous configurations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel bounce solution for false vacuum decay in compact spaces, differing from traditional bubble models, and explores its implications for decay rates and real-time dynamics.

Findings

New bounce solution mediates decay below a critical volume.

Decay rate is exponentially enhanced by the new bounce.

Transition from homogeneous to quasi-homogeneous configurations as volume increases.

Abstract

We study zero-temperature false vacuum decay in $D$ compact spatial dimensions and show that for volumes below a critical value a new bounce solution, different from Coleman's celebrated $O(D)$ bubble, mediates the decay process, and typically leads to an exponentially enhanced decay rate. The bounce, when analytically continued to Lorentzian signature, nucleates a homogeneous field configuration for spatial volumes below a critical value, and quasi-homogeneous configurations for slightly larger volumes, and is not of the form of a thin or thick-walled bubble embedded in a false vacuum background. We explicitly show that the new bounce has the necessary features associated with false vacuum decay, following from its eigenvalue spectrum of fluctuations. The cross-over from homogeneous to quasi-homogeneous solutions as the spatial volume is increased is discussed, as is a real-time interpretation of the bounce. We apply this bounce to the study of a scalar field model, as well as a close cousin of the Schwinger effect that applies to $(1+1)d$ axion electrodynamics in compact space.