Quantum effect may prevent catastrophic universe transitions

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth have published a study in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics exploring a phenomenon known as “cosmic blocking.” This quantum effect may prevent the universe from transitioning into more catastrophic, lower-energy states.

In quantum physics, a vacuum represents the state of a field with the lowest possible energy. While the universe appears stable, it is theoretically possible that a state with even lower energy exists. Under quantum mechanics, particles can bypass energy barriers through a process called quantum tunneling, which could lead to a transition from a “false vacuum” to a “true vacuum.”

The study investigates how interactions between different quantum fields, rather than treating a single field in isolation, influence this stability. The findings suggest that the relationship between a field's mass and the expansion rate of the universe is a crucial factor in determining whether a field remains trapped in its current state or undergoes a transition.