Dynamics and instability of false vacuum bubbles

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the classical dynamics of false vacuum bubbles in general relativity, exploring their stability, possible evolutions, and implications for universe creation mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive derivation and classification of relativistic solutions for false vacuum bubbles, including stability analysis of aspherical perturbations.

Findings

Many solutions are unstable to aspherical perturbations

Parameter space for nonlinear perturbations is mapped

Implications for baby universe production mechanisms

Abstract

This paper examines the classical dynamics of false vacuum regions embedded in surrounding regions of true vacuum, in the thin-wall limit. The dynamics of all generally relativistically allowed solutions -- most but not all of which have been previously studied -- are derived, enumerated, and interpreted. We comment on the relation of these solutions to possible mechanisms whereby inflating regions may be spawned from non-inflating ones. We then calculate the dynamics of first order deviations from spherical symmetry, finding that many solutions are unstable to such aspherical perturbations. The parameter space in which the perturbations on bound solutions inevitably become nonlinear is mapped. This instability has consequences for the Farhi-Guth-Guven mechanism for baby universe production via quantum tunneling.