Metastability of the Higgs field

[ryan liberty]

One current theory surrounding the higgs field is that it might be metastable, as in it acts stable but could (through quantum tunneling) drop it's energy level to become truly stable. This drop in energy would release all of the potential energy contained in the field. This is of course vacuum decay, which would destroy the universe as we know it. How do we predict this? We probably can't, however help would be appreciated.

 

[Orodruin]

How do we predict this?

What do you mean with this? Do you mean when it will happen or do you mean how we predict than it can occur. The answers are widely different.

 

[ryan liberty]

What do you mean with this? Do you mean when it will happen or do you mean how we predict than it can occur. The answers are widely different.

I mean how do we know that it CAN happen, I haven't found data on it.

 

[Orodruin]

I mean how do we know that it CAN happen, I haven't found data on it.

This is not knowable. It is an extrapolation of the current Standard Model - which is also known to be incomplete.