# The Boring Monopole

### Submission summary

 Authors (as Contributors): Michael Nee
Submission information
Arxiv Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2202.11102v3 (pdf)
Date accepted: 2022-08-10
Date submitted: 2022-06-29 03:12
Submitted by: Nee, Michael
Submitted to: SciPost Physics
Ontological classification
Academic field: Physics
Specialties:
• High-Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Approach: Phenomenological

### Abstract

We study false vacuum decays catalysed by magnetic monopoles which act as tunnelling sites with exponentially enhanced decay rates. The field profiles describing the decay do not have the typically assumed $O(3)/O(4)$ symmetry, thus requiring an extension of the usual decay rate calculation. To numerically determine the saddle point solutions which describe the tunnelling process we use a new algorithm based on the mountain pass theorem. This method can be applied more widely to phase transitions with reduced symmetry, such as decays away from the zero and infinite temperature limits. Our results show that monopole-catalysed tunnelling can dominate over the homogeneous false vacuum decay for a wide range of parameters, significantly modify the gravitational wave signal or trigger phase transitions which would otherwise never complete. A single boring monopole in our Hubble patch may determine the lifetime of the Standard Model vacuum.

Published as SciPost Phys. 13, 049 (2022)

### Submission & Refereeing History

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Resubmission 2202.11102v3 on 29 June 2022
Submission 2202.11102v2 on 12 April 2022

## Reports on this Submission

### Report

The authors addressed the issues raised in the report. So, I recommend publishing this paper in SciPost.

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### Report

The authors have addressed the questions and comments mentioned in the referee report. I recommend publication of this paper in SciPost.

• validity: -
• significance: -
• originality: -
• clarity: -
• formatting: -
• grammar: -