Particle Physics Seminar: Gravitational Waves from a Hawking Moss Phase Transition

Abstract:

We study the observable implications of a phase transition in the early universe.  Specifically, we consider a scenario where a background field undergoes a Hawking Moss transition in the late stages of inflation. This phase transition allows simultaneous tunneling over an entire Hubble patch due to de Sitter fluctuations. The process creates an inhomogeneity with a distinct spectrum, appearing scale invariant at high frequencies. Upon horizon re-entry, this spectrum generates gravitational waves through non-linear effects. This stochastic GW background may be detectable by future experiments spanning a wide frequency range.

Seminar Organizers: Prof. Erez Etzion & Dr. Liron Barak