Theory HEP Seminar

Quantum Tunneling in Real Time

Neil Turok

Perimeter Institute

I develop a first-principles, real time description of quantum tunneling in the semiclassical approximation, employing complex classical solutions. I show that in a precise sense, in the classical limit, the best possible description of quantum reality is in terms of complex rather than real numbers. Implications for experiments in laboratory quantum systems, for quantum field theory (including the metastable minimal standard model) and for the reliability of the “inflationary multiverse” picture will be discussed.