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12–14 Mar 2025
University of Helsinki
Europe/Helsinki timezone

Thermal nucleation in perturbation theory

13 Mar 2025, 15:25
20m
E204 (University of Helsinki)

E204

University of Helsinki

Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, 00560 Helsinki

Speaker

Dr Joonas Hirvonen (University of Nottingham)

Description

Cosmological first-order phase transitions may have generated an observable gravitational wave background, offering a unique probe of beyond-Standard-Model physics. A crucial step in predicting this background is the reliable computation of bubble nucleation rates. In this talk, I will give an overview of recent advancements in perturbative high-temperature nucleation rate calculations. These include the application of effective field theory, which enhances our understanding of the equilibrium part of the computation, and the use of Boltzmann equations to account for the off-equilibrium effects of the primordial plasma onto nucleation. I will also discuss some open challenges that remain in perturbative approaches, paving the way for future developments.

Author

Dr Joonas Hirvonen (University of Nottingham)

Presentation materials