Dark energy from neutrinos and standard model Higgs potential

The dark energy density of the universe is obtained from the Higgs potential by introducing a Higgs-dependent neutrino mass. In the standard picture of electro-weak symmetry breaking the Higgs potential is Vϕ = (λ/4)(ϕ2 − v2)2 and the Higgs field rolls down to the minima at 〈ϕ〉 = v = 246.2 GeV and the net vacuum energy is zero. Now if the neutrino mass is a function of the Higgs field, then the vacuum expectation value of the Higgs is determined by maximizing the total pressure of the Higgs self interaction and the neutrino fluid Pϕ + Pν(m(ϕ)) w.r.t ϕ. The new minima 〈ϕ〉 = v + σm shifts from the standard Higgs vev v by a small amount σm. The total pressure of the Higgs-neutrino coupled fluid Pϕ(v + σm) + Pν(v + σm) = −ρΛ appears as the dark energy density of the universe. The magnitude of the dark energy is thus determined by to the neutrino mass and the Higgs potential.

► We examine the possibility that neutrino varying mass can explain dark energy. ► The neutrino mass is a steep function of the Higgs field. ► The Higgs coupling gives a contact interaction between neutrinos. ► Formation of neutrino nuggets and clustering at astrophysical scales are avoided.