On the criterion of perturbativity with the mass-dependent beta function in extended Higgs models

Abstract

In order to realize electroweak first order phase transition, a category of extended Higgs models with relatively large self-coupling constants is often considered. In such a scenario, the running coupling constants can blow up at an energy scale much below the Planck scale. To clarify the allowed parameter space of the model, it is important to evaluate the scale where perturbation calculation breaks down. In the renormalization group equation analysis using the mass-independent renormalization scheme, we need the matching condition to connect the low energy theory and the high energy theory. Consequently, the analysis depends on the detail of the matching condition. On the other hand, the analysis with the mass-dependent beta function is performed in a simpler way, because the threshold effect is automatically included in the beta function. Therefore, in this paper, using the mass-dependent beta function at the one-loop level, we discuss the application limit of perturbation calculation. First, in a toy model with two complex scalar fields, we explain the essence of our method and compare our results with those based on the mass-independent beta function. We then apply our method to the more realistic model; i.e., the inert doublet model. We find that in our method, in which the threshold effect is automatically included, the energy scale where the perturbation calculation breaks down can be higher than the one using the mass-independent beta function, especially when the blow up scale is relatively low.