First-order phase transitions and gravitational waves in the early Universe: from microphysics to macrophysics

by Prof. Ryusuke Jinno (Kobe U.)

Friday 14 Nov 2025, 10:00 → 12:00 Asia/Tokyo

C205 (2nd floor) (Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, U. Toyama)

Over the next few decades, we will have an exciting opportunity to probe the early Universe with gravitational wave observations using space interferometers. A particularly interesting scenario is that of a first-order phase transition, in which bubbles of true vacuum nucleate, expand, and collide, involving the dynamics of surrounding plasma particles. In this talk, we review both the microphysical and macrophysical aspects of this scenario, from the high-energy physics that triggers phase transition to the production of gravitational waves and their observational prospects, and then discuss some recent developments.