Accretion of a symmetry-breaking scalar field by a Schwarzschild black hole. (22nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Traykova, Dina; Braden, Jonathan; Peiris, Hiranya V.
• Is Part Of: Philosophical transactions. Volume 376:Number 2114(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-01-22
• Subjects: numerical relativity -- black holes -- symmetry breaking -- Higgs dynamics; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; Engineering -- Periodicals; Mathematics -- Periodicals; 500
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2017.0122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-503X

Abstract

Abstract : We simulate the behaviour of a Higgs-like field in the vicinity of a Schwarzschild black hole using a highly accurate numerical framework. We consider both the limit of the zero-temperature Higgs potential and a toy model for the time-dependent evolution of the potential when immersed in a slowly cooling radiation bath. Through these numerical investigations, we aim to improve our understanding of the non-equilibrium dynamics of a symmetry-breaking field (such as the Higgs) in the vicinity of a compact object such as a black hole. Understanding this dynamics may suggest new approaches for studying properties of scalar fields using black holes as a laboratory. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Higgs Cosmology'.