Bubble Trouble: a Review on Electroweak Baryogenesis

Abstract

The origin of the universal asymmetry between matter and antimatter remains a mystery. Electroweak baryogenesis is a well-motivated mechanism for generating the asymmetry dynamically, using interesting features of the Standard Model. In addition, it relies on beyond-the-Standard Model physics active around the electroweak scale: new physics coupling to the Higgs to make the electroweak phase transition first order, and a new mechanism of CP violation. The relatively low energy scale at which electroweak baryogenesis occurs makes certain aspects of the mechanism testable through collider experiments, electric dipole moment measurements, and gravitational wave observations. However, scenarios of electroweak baryogenesis are increasingly challenged by results from contemporary experiments. The developing experimental programs will play a crucial role in either falsifying or detecting the new physics responsible for electroweak baryogenesis. To achieve this, it is essential to make precise predictions for the baryon asymmetry and the corresponding experimental signatures within specific scenarios. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the rich physics involved in these predictions. Our goal is to offer a practical computational guide, with a focus on recent developments in the field.