Graduate Vacuum Transitions and Lorentz Symmetry Breaking

[Suekdccia]

TL;DR

Vacuum Transitions and Lorentz Symmetry Breaking

There are several "bumblebee" models [1], [2] where Lorentz invariance is violated usually resulting from a local vector or tensor field acquiring a nonzero vacuum expectation value

We do not know whether we are in the true vacuum state or in a "false"/metastable vacuum state that could decay. Even if we were in a true vacuum state, there could be (theoretically speaking) highly energetic events in the universe that would "inject" energy to the vacuum, changing its ground state into an excited/unstable/false vacuum state (this was confirmed by Gian Francesco Giudice, a particle physicist from CERN working in vacuum decay models, who told me this was possible in an email). Then this "new" metastable vacuum could decay into a lower vacuum state or even return to the initial true vacuum state. But then, even if we found that the Standard Model was complete (or that at least it was in a true vacuum state), would these vacuum phase transitions (from the true vacuum into a false one and then decaying) change the particle physics we know (changing the fundamental forces, fields and particles or even replacing them with totally different ones)?

And if that would be possible, then, since physics could change depending on the energy and the characteristics of the vacuum, could one of these vacuum phase transitions result in a specific configuration of particles, forces, fields, symmetries and groups that would be compatible with a vacuum from a Lorentz-symmetry violating theory that are cited in [2] (e.g Holger Nielsen's random dynamics: so in that vacuum one would find no fundamental symmetries in the smallest scales, as Nielsen proposes)?

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee_models
[2]: http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0035-001X2010000600006

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

First you need to observe this Lorentz symmetry breaking in an experiment.
How do those theorists propose to observe this symmetry breaking?

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

Could there be an infinite number of false vacuums and no true vacuum?

Just an idea.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Just an idea.

Is it even an idea?

What does it mean? How would you test such a thing - even in principle?

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

Is it even an idea?

What does it mean? How would you test such a thing - even in principle?

Is string theory testable?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Actually, yes. String theory says the universe is supersymmetric. Thus far, it appears not to be supported by data.

Now, let me contradict myself. "String theory" is not a physical theory, but a mathematical toolkit used to construct physical theories. These theories can be supported or not, nut the toolkit is as valid as its mathematics.

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

Actually, yes. String theory says the universe is supersymmetric. Thus far, it appears not to be supported by data.

Now, let me contradict myself. "String theory" is not a physical theory, but a mathematical toolkit used to construct physical theories. These theories can be supported or not, nut the toolkit is as valid as its mathematics.

As far as I know, not all string theories are supersymmetric.

 

[Suekdccia]

Could there be an infinite number of false vacuums and no true vacuum?

Just an idea.

So if there were infinitely many false vacua, we would find in at least one of these vacua, a vacuum described by bumblebee models (like those cited in the article [2], like Holger Nielsen's model)?

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

So if there were infinitely many false vacua, we would find in at least one of these vacua, a vacuum described by bumblebee models (like those cited in the article [2], like Holger Nielsen's model)?

I don't know, I haven't read his paper. And I am not so sure I have the right knowledge to understand it right now.