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

Abstract

AbstractWe 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 timetinstantaneous decay rate$${\varGamma }(t)$$Γ(t)of the false vacuum state and the Hubble parameterH(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,$$\tau _{0}^{F}$$τ0F, 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.