The Electroweak Vacuum Decay and the Gravitational Contribution

Whether the Standard Model electroweak vacuum is stable, metastable or unstable depends crucially on the top mass (and, to a lesser extent, on other measurable quantities). These topics are reviewed and updated by taking into account the most recent determination of the top and Higgs masses. Moreover, the correction to the vacuum decay due to Einstein gravity is described. This process is also discussed in a scenario, called softened gravity, which has been proposed as a solution of the Higgs mass hierarchy problem

Attenuation of ricin at 40°C air temperature on mild steel as a function of time.

<p>Test 16 evaluated elapsed times from 2–7 days; Test 18 evaluated exposure times of 3–14 days.</p

Average attenuation of ricin at 50°C on mild steel as a function of time.

<p>Test 15 evaluated elapsed times from 0.25–4.0 days; Test 17 evaluated 2–7 days.</p

Average percent attenuation obtained for each environmental condition at 14 and 28 days.

<p>Average percent attenuation obtained for each environmental condition at 14 and 28 days.</p

Test parameter combinations demonstrating greater than 99% reduction of ricin.

<p>Test parameter combinations demonstrating greater than 99% reduction of ricin.</p