Multifield Polygonal Bounces

Understand

We propose a new approach for computing tunneling rates in quantum or thermal field theory with multiple scalar fields.

• It is based on exact analytical solutions of piecewise linear potentials with many segments that describes any given potential to arbitrary precision.
• The method is first developed for the single field case in 3 and 4 space-time dimensions and demonstrated on examples of classical potentials as well as the calculation of quantum fluctuations.
• A systematic expansion of the potential beyond the linear order is considered, taking into account higher order corrections, which paves the way for multiple scalar fields.