  We consider the decay of "false kinks," that is, kinks formed in a scalar
field theory with a pair of degenerate symmetry-breaking false vacua in 1+1
dimensions. The true vacuum is symmetric. A second scalar field and a peculiar
potential are added in order for the kink to be classically stable. We find an
expression for the decay rate of a false kink. As with any tunneling event, the
rate is proportional to $\exp(-S_E)$ where $S_E$ is the Euclidean action of the
bounce describing the tunneling event. This factor varies wildly depending on
the parameters of the model. Of interest is the fact that for certain
parameters $S_E$ can get arbitrarily small, implying that the kink is only
barely stable. Thus, while the false vacuum itself may be very long-lived, the
presence of kinks can give rise to rapid vacuum decay.
