A universe born in a metastable false vacuum state needs not die

We try to find conditions, the fulfillment of which allows a universe born in a metastable false vacuum state to survive and not to collapse. The conditions found are in the form of inequalities linking the depending on time t instantaneous decay rate gamma(t) of the false vacuum state and the Hubble parameter H(t). Properties of the decay rate of a quantum metastable states are discussed and then the possible solutions of the conditions found are analyzed and discussed. Within the model considered it is shown that a universe born in the metastable vacuum state has a very high chance of surviving until very late times if the lifetime, tau(F)(0) , of the metastable false vacuum state is much shorter, than the duration of the inflation process. Our analysis shows that the instability of the electroweak vacuum does not have to result in the tragic fate of our Universe leading to its death.

Automated summary

We aim to find the conditions that allow a universe born in a metastable false vacuum state to survive and avoid collapse. The conditions, in the form of inequalities, connect the instantaneous decay rate of the false vacuum state and the Hubble parameter. We analyze the properties of the decay rate and discuss potential solutions to these conditions. Our analysis demonstrates that if the lifetime of the metastable false vacuum state is much shorter than the duration of the inflation process, a universe born in this state has a high chance of surviving until very late times. This suggests that the instability of the electroweak vacuum does not necessarily lead to the tragic fate and death of our universe.