FindBounce: Package for multi-field bounce actions

Abstract

We are launching FindBounce, a Mathematica package for the evaluation of the Euclidean bounce action that enters the decay rate of metastable states in quantum and thermal field theories. It is based on the idea of polygonal bounces, which is a semi-analytical approach to solving the bounce equation by discretizing the potential into piecewise linear segments. This allows for a fast and robust evaluation of arbitrary potentials with specified precision and any number of scalar fields. Time cost grows linearly with the number of fields and/or the number of segments. Computation with 20 fields takes ∼2 s with 0.5% accuracy of the action. The FindBounce function is simple to use with the native Mathematica look and feel, it is easy to install, and comes with detailed documentation and physical examples, such as the calculation of the nucleation temperature. We also provide timing benchmarks with comparisons to existing tools, where applicable. Program summaryProgram title:FindBounceCPC Library link to program files:http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/tysw84skx3.1Developer’s repository link:https://github.com/vguada/FindBounceLicensing provisions: GNU General Public License 3Programming language:MathematicaNature of problem: Evaluation of the Euclidean bounce action that controls the decay rate of metastable local minima in thermal and quantum field theories.Solution method: Semi-analytical solution of a system of coupled differential equations, based on the polygonal bounce idea (Guada et al., 2019).Restrictions:Mathematica version 10 or above, works in D=3,4.