arXiv subjects

O. Philipsen

Publications and source records attributed to O. Philipsen.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv1999

Static mass scales in hot gauge theories

The static sectors of the electroweak Standard Model and QCD at finite temperatures are described by 3d SU(N) Higgs models with scalars in the fundamental and adjoint representation, respectively. I summarize the non-perturbative physics of these theories like mass spectrum, string tension, screening of the static potential and non-perturbative corrections to the Debye mass, as obtained from recent lattice simulations. It is observed that in the 3d theory corresponding to the purely magnetic sector there is a larger hierarchy between different quantities than between the electric ($\sim gT$) and magnetic ($\sim g^2T$) sectors of finite T gauge theories, which are not generally well separated.

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arXiv1998

The static potential beyond screening in the 3d SU(2) Higgs model

The static potential in the 3d SU(2) Higgs model is computed by a variational calculation employing Wilson loops and two-meson operators. String breaking is demonstrated numerically, the breaking scale is determined and the results are compared with a quenched calculation.

hep-lat↗

arXiv1998

Scalar-gauge dynamics in (2+1) dimensions at small and large scalar couplings

We present the results of a detailed calculation of the excitation spectrum of states with quantum numbers J^{PC}=0++, 1-- and 2++ in the three-dimensional SU(2) Higgs model at two values of the scalar self-coupling and for fixed gauge coupling. In the context of studies of the electroweak phase transition at finite temperature these couplings correpond to tree-level, zero temperature Higgs masses of 35 GeV and 120 GeV, respectively. We also study the properties of Polyakov loop operators, which serve to test the confining properties of the model in the symmetric phase. At both values of the scalar coupling we obtain masses of bound states consisting entirely of gauge degrees of freedom ("W-balls"), which are very close to those obtained in the pure gauge theory. We conclude that the previously observed, approximate decoupling of the scalar and gauge sectors of the theory persists at large scalar couplings. We study the crossover region at large scalar coupling and present a scenario how the confining properties of the model in the symmetric phase are lost inside the crossover by means of flux tube decay. We conclude that the underlying dynamics responsible for the observed dense spectrum of states in the Higgs region at large couplings must be different from that in the symmetric phase.

hep-lat↗

arXiv1998

Renormalization Group Naturalness of GUT Higgs Potentials

We analyze the symmetry-breaking patterns of grand unified theories from the point of view of a recently-proposed criterion of renormalization-group naturalness. We perform the analysis on simple non-SUSY SU(5) and SO(10) and SUSY SU(5) GUTs. We find that the naturalness criterion can favor spontaneous-symmetry-breaking in the direction of the smallest of the maximal little groups. Some differences between theories with and without supersymmetry are also emphasized.

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arXiv1997

Gauge-invariant scalar and field strength correlators in 3d

Gauge-invariant non-local scalar and field strength operators have been argued to have significance, e.g., as a way to determine the behaviour of the screened static potential at large distances, as order parameters for confinement, as input parameters in models of confinement, and as gauge-invariant definitions of light constituent masses in bound state systems. We measure such "correlators" in the 3d pure SU(2) and SU(2)+Higgs models on the lattice. We extract the corresponding mass parameters and discuss their scaling and physical interpretation. We find that the finite part of the MS-bar scheme mass measured from the field strength correlator is large, more than half the glueball mass. We also determine the non-perturbative contribution to the Debye mass in the 4d finite T SU(2) gauge theory with a method due to Arnold and Yaffe, finding $δm_D\approx 1.06(4)g^2T$.

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arXiv1997

Connecting Higgs and Confinement Phase of the 3d SU(2) Higgs Model

The mass spectrum of the 3d SU(2) Higgs model for states with quantum numbers $0^{++}$, $2^{++}$ and $1^{--}$ as obtained from lattice simulations is presented in the Higgs and confinement regions, both for a small and a large scalar coupling. In the latter case it is possible to continuously connect the spectra and observe the transition from confining to Higgs physics via decay of flux loops.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1997

The finite temperature real time \hbar^2 corrections in quantum mechanics

We study non-perturbative real time correlation functions at finite temperature. In order to see whether the classical term gives a good approximation in the high temperature limit T >> \hbarω, we consider the first \hbar^2 quantum corrections. We find that for the simplest non-trivial case, the quantum mechanical anharmonic oscillator, the classical result is reliable only for moderately large times: after some time t_* the classical approximation breaks down even at high temperatures. Moreover, the result for the first quantum corrections cannot, in general, be reproduced by modifying the parameters of the classical theory.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1997

On the Phase Diagram of the SU(2) Adjoint Higgs Model in 2+1 Dimensions

The phase diagram is investigated for SU(2) lattice gauge theory in d=3, coupled to adjoint scalars. For small values of the quartic scalar coupling, lambda, the transition separating Higgs and confinement phases is found to be first-order, in agreement with earlier work by Nadkarni. The surface of second-order transitions conjectured by Nadkarni, however, is shown instead to correspond to crossover behaviour. This conclusion is based on a finite size analysis of the scalar mass and susceptibility. The nature of the phase transition at the termination of first-order behaviour is investigated and we find evidence for a critical point at which the scalar mass vanishes. The photon mass and confining string tension are measured and are found to be negligibly small in the Higgs phase. This is correlated with the very small density of magnetic monopoles in the Higgs phase. The string tension and photon mass rise rapidly as the crossover is traversed towards the symmetric phase.

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arXiv1996

Infra-red fixed point structure characterising SUSY SU(5) symmetry breaking

We analyze the one-loop renormalisation group equations for the parameters of the Higgs potential of a supersymmetric SU(5) model with first step of symmetry breaking involving an adjoint Higgs. In particular, we investigate the running of the parameters that decide the first step of symmetry breaking in an attempt to establish which symmetry-breaking scenarios would be most likely if the model is the effective low-energy description of some more fundamental theory. An infra-red fixed point is identified analytically. We show that it is located at the boundary between the region of Higgs parameter space corresponding to unbroken SU(5) and the region corresponding to the breaking of SU(5) to the Standard Model, and we elaborate on its implications. We also observe that certain forms of the Higgs potential discussed at tree level in the literature are not renormalisation group invariant.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1996

Magnetic Screening in the High Temperature Phase of the Standard Model

Non-perturbative effects in the high-temperature phase of the electroweak theory are characterized by a magnetic screening length. Its size influences the range of validity of perturbation theory, and it also determines the critical Higgs boson mass where the first-order phase transition changes to a crossover. We propose a gauge-invariant definition of the magnetic screening length and discuss its role in several gauge-dependent and gauge-invariant correlation functions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1996

Mass Spectrum of the 3d SU(2) Higgs Model and the Symmetric Electroweak Phase

We present results for the masses of the low-lying states with quantum numbers $0^{++}$, $2^{++}$ and $1^{--}$ as well as Polyakov line correlations in the Higgs and confinement regions of the 3d SU(2) Higgs model. In the confinement phase we find a dense spectrum of bound states approximately split into two disjoint sectors. One consists of W-balls nearly identical to the glueball spectrum of the pure gauge theory, the other of bound states of scalars.

hep-lat↗

arXiv1996

On the Mass Spectrum of the SU(2) Higgs Model in 2+1 Dimensions

We calculate the masses of the low-lying states with quantum numbers $J^{PC}=0^{++},1^{--}$ in the Higgs and confinement regions of the three-dimensional SU(2) Higgs model, which plays an important rôle in the description of the thermodynamic properties of the standard model at finite temperatures. We extract the masses from correlation functions of gauge-invariant operators which are calculated by means of a lattice Monte Carlo simulation. The projection properties of our lattice operators onto the lowest states are greatly improved by the use of smearing techniques. We also consider cross correlations between various operators with the same quantum numbers. From these the mass eigenstates are determined by means of a variational calculation. In the symmetric phase, we find that some of the ground state masses are about 30\% lighter than those reported from previous simulations. We also obtain the masses of the first few excited states in the symmetric phase. Remarkable among these is the occurrence of a $0^{++}$ state composed almost entirely of gauge degrees of freedom. The mass of this state, as well as that of its first excitations, is nearly identical to the corresponding glueball states in three-dimensional SU(2) pure gauge theory, indicating an approximate decoupling of the pure gauge sector from the Higgs sector of the model. We perform a detailed study of finite size effects and extrapolate the lattice mass spectrum to the continuum.

hep-lat↗

arXiv1995

Abelian versus Non-Abelian Higgs Model in Three Dimensions

We study the phase structure of the abelian Higgs model in three dimensions based on perturbation theory and a set of gauge independent gap equations for Higgs boson and vector boson masses. Contrary to the non-abelian Higgs model, the vector boson mass vanishes in the symmetric phase. In the Higgs phase the gap equations yield masses consistent with perturbation theory. The phase transition is first-order for small values of the scalar self-coupling $λ$, where the employed loop expansion is applicable.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1994

Phase Structure and Phase Transition of the SU(2) Higgs Model in Three Dimensions

We derive a set of gauge independent gap equations for Higgs boson and vector boson masses for the SU(2) Higgs model in three dimensions. The solutions can be associated with the Higgs phase and the symmetric phase, respectively. In the Higgs phase the calculated masses are in agreement with results from perturbation theory. In the symmetric phase a non-perturbative vector boson mass is generated by the non-abelian gauge interactions, whose value is rather independent of the scalar self-coupling $λ$. For small values of $λ$ the phase transition is first-order. Its strength decreases with increasing $λ$, and at a critical value $λ_c$ the first-order transition changes to a crossover. Based on a perturbative matching the three-dimensional theory is related to the four-dimensional theory at high temperatures. The critical Higgs mass $m_H^c$, corresponding to the critical coupling $λ_c$, is estimated to be below 100 GeV. The ``symmetric phase'' of the theory can be interpreted as a Higgs phase whose parameters are determined non-perturbatively. The obtained Higgs boson and vector boson masses are compared with recent results from lattice Monte Carlo simulations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1994

On the problem of the magnetic mass

The dynamical generation of a transverse gauge field mass is studied by means of gap equations for pure gauge theory and the gauged non-linear sigma model in three dimensions. Non-trivial solutions to the gap equations are found indicating that this type of mass generation is a feature of the static sector of finite temperature field theory. In the case of the non-linear sigma model the transverse mass can be defined in a manifestly gauge invariant manner. Its value is determined to be m=0.28g^2.

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