Uniqueness of a Negative Mode About a Bounce Solution

Abstract

We consider the uniqueness problem of a negative eigenvalue in the spectrum of small fluctuations about a bounce solution in a multidimensional case. Our approach is based on the concept of conjugate points from Morse theory and is a natural generalization of the nodal theorem approach usually used in one dimensional case. We show that bounce solution has exactly one conjugate point at $\tau=0$ with multiplicity one.