Vacuum Tunneling by Cosmic Strings

Abstract

We consider vacuum tunneling of a new kind where the false vacua are not translationally invariant, but have topological defects that break some of their translational symmetries. In the particular case where the topological defects are cosmic strings, we show the existence of an O(2) \times O(2) symmetric bounce configuration that allows a semi-classical estimate of the rate of cosmic string induced tunneling. A method of reduction is then suggested for simplifying the computation of the bounce action. Some phenomenological applications are described.

16 pages, Latex, two postscript figures, uses epsf

References in corpus (2)

• Problems for Supersymmetry Breaking by the Dilaton in Strings from Charge and Color Breaking
• Improved Action Method for Analysing Tunneling in Quantum Field Theory

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Domain walls seeding the electroweak phase transition
• Super-slow phase transition catalyzed by BHs and the birth of baby BHs
• On stability of false vacuum in supersymmetric theories with cosmic strings
• Electroweak Phase Transition with a Double Well Done Doubly Well
• QCD Axion Strings or Seeds?
• String melting in a photon bath