First Order Phase Transitions in Gauge Theories

Aug, 1978
20 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.D 19 (1979) 1906-1911
Report number:
  • PRINT-78-0801 (SIMON-FRASER)

Citations per year

1980198819962004201210
Abstract: (APS)
The statistical mechanics of field theories with broken, global, and local SU(3) gauge symmetries is studied in the one-loop approximation. The presence of a cubic term in the potential, when allowed by symmetry, is to restore the symmetry by a first-order phase transition rather than by a second-order transition. The transition temperatures are estimated to be too low for a finite density of magnetic monopoles to be excited.
  • GAUGE FIELD THEORY: CRITICAL PHENOMENA
  • STATISTICAL MECHANICS
  • SYMMETRY: SU(3)
  • SYMMETRY BREAKING
  • FIELD THEORY: HIGHER-ORDER
  • POSTULATED PARTICLE: MAGNETIC MONOPOLE
  • TEMPERATURE