Could vacuum decay fundamentally change our universe?

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SUMMARY

A false vacuum decay would fundamentally alter the universe's physical laws, affecting particle types and vacuum energy values. This event would lead to an unrecognizable state, as the changes would propagate at light speed, reshaping the universe. According to Sidney Coleman and F. de Luccia, the current vacuum state is extremely stable, making such an event unlikely without an extraordinary trigger, such as a new big bang. The discussion clarifies that the concept of a multiverse does not apply in this context, as our universe cannot exist in multiple vacuum states simultaneously.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of vacuum states in quantum field theory
  • Familiarity with particle physics and types of particles
  • Knowledge of vacuum energy concepts
  • Basic grasp of cosmological theories, including the big bang
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of vacuum metastability events in quantum field theory
  • Study the stability of vacuum states and their role in cosmology
  • Explore the theories surrounding multiverse levels as defined in cosmological models
  • Investigate potential triggers for vacuum decay, including hypothetical scenarios like a new big bang
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, cosmologists, and anyone interested in the fundamental laws of the universe and the implications of vacuum decay on physical reality.

Suekdccia
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If the universe suffered a false vacuum decay, would this change physical laws? Could it change the universe so much that it would allow our universe to be a multiverse of level 1, 2, 3 and 4?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse
 
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Suekdccia said:
If the universe suffered a false vacuum decay, would this change physical laws?

It would change types of particles which can exist on top of the new vacuum state; will also likely change vacuum energy value. This basically would unrecognizably mangle everything.
Since it's not survivable for any structures, including life, I don't care what would happen after.
 
Yes, if the vacuum decided to suddenly drop to a ground state, everything would change, radiating away from the spot it happened at the speed of light.

No, this isn’t what people mean by multiverse because our universe can’t be in different vacuum states at the same time.
 
Suekdccia said:
If the universe suffered a false vacuum decay, would this change physical laws?
Here's what a paper by Sidney Coleman & F. de Luccia said about... a vacuum metastability event .
 
Apparentty the current vacuum state of the universe is extremely stable, which helps explain the considerable age of the observable universe. Any change in the base vacuum energy state of the universe would, in theory, spread at light speed throughout the universe as vacuum energy from adjacent regions rushed into erase the deficit. The details of how this might occur and what it might look like are unclear. Evidently, no known natural process is sufficiently energetic to trigger such an event. Another big bang might do the trick, but, nobody has a clue how to pull off that feat. This should be sufficient to allay the fears [or hopes] of doomsayers.
 
Fear is an emotional state, not an intellectual position.
 

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