Stability of neutral minima against charge breaking in the Higgs triplet model

Abstract: We analyse the possibility of charge breaking minima developing in the Higgs triplet model, and under what conditions they are deeper than charge-preserving ones. Analytical expressions relating the depth of minima of different types are deduced. A global symmetry of the model leads to increased stability for charge-preserving vacua. However, if that symmetry is broken by a soft term, deeper charge-breaking minima may occur more easily. We identify the vev configurations most likely to produce charge breaking minima.