Bubble of nothing

In theoretical physics, a bubble of nothing is a physical instability that is found in higher-dimensional spacetime models. It was first described by Edward Witten in 1982, as a consequence of the positive energy theorem.^[1][2][3] It represents a non-perturbative decay channel of Kaluza–Klein theory, in which spacetime can spontaneously collapse through the nucleation of a gravitational instanton.^[3] This bubble of nothing has no interior, not even spacetime.^[2][3]

Bubbles of nothing are forbidden in models that include supersymmetry.^[3]

It has been considered as an hypothetical end of the universe mechanism.^[4] As bubbles of nothing have not been observed, their absence can be used to put constraints on other theories.^[4]

See also

• False vacuum