Embedded topological defects in hot electroweak theory: A Lattice study

We study the properties of Nambu monopoles and Z-vortices in the 3D lattice SU(2) Higgs theory which represents the Standard Model at high temperature. We show that the densities of the Nambu monopoles and the Z-vortices are O(1) in the symmetric phase and generically small in the Higgs phase. Near to the critical Higgs mass and in the vicinity of the phase transition the densities are no more negligible in the broken phase. The percolation probability of the Z-vortex lines is found as a new disorder parameter for this phase transition. We conclude that the transition to the symmetric phase is accompanied by Z-vortex condensation. Simulations comparing elementary and extended vortices and monopoles at different \beta_G values, aiming to show that the density of vortices and monopoles of fixed physical size might have a well-defined continuum limit, gives encouraging but so far inconclusive results.

Note:

13 pages, LaTeX, 8 figures, epsf.sty needed; revision: minor changes and reference added Report-no: ITEP-TH-12/98, KANAZAWA-98-03, ZIF-MS-30/98

lattice field theory
Higgs model: SU(2)
dimension: 3
magnetic monopole: density
vortex: density
electroweak interaction
finite temperature
symmetry: O(1)
critical phenomena: percolation
vortex: condensation

References(31)

Figures(0)

A New class of defects

Tanmay Vachaspati
(
- Tufts U. and
- Santa Barbara, KITP
)
,
Manuel Barriola
(
- Tufts U. and
- Santa Barbara, KITP
)

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 69 (1992) 1867-1870
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.69.1867

Embedded defects

- Phys.Rev.D 50 (1994) 2819-2825
•
e-Print:
- hep-th/9306120
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.50.2819

String-Like Configurations in the Weinberg-Salam Theory

Yoichiro Nambu
(
- Chicago U., EFI and
- Chicago U.
)

- Nucl.Phys.B 130 (1977) 505,
•
DOI:
- 10.1016/0550-3213(77)90252-8

Topology in the Weinberg-Salam Theory

N.S. Manton
(
- Santa Barbara, KITP
)

- Phys.Rev.D 28 (1983) 2019
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.28.2019

Electroweak string configurations with baryon number

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 73 (1994) 373-376
•
e-Print:
- hep-ph/9401220
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.73.373

The Origin of the sphaleron dipole moment

Mark Hindmarsh
(
- Cambridge U.
)
,
Margaret James
(
- Cambridge U.
)

- Phys.Rev.D 49 (1994) 6109-6114
•
e-Print:
- hep-ph/9307205
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.49.6109

Sphalerons and strings

Mark Hindmarsh
(
- Sussex U.
)

- Sintra Electroweak 1994:195-200
•
e-Print:
- hep-ph/9408241

Topological content of the electroweak sphaleron on the lattice

M.N. Chernodub
(
- Moscow, ITEP
)
,
F.V. Gubarev
(
- Moscow, ITEP
)
,
Ernst-Michael Ilgenfritz
(
- Humboldt U., Berlin
)

- Phys.Lett.B 424 (1998) 106-114
•
e-Print:
- hep-lat/9710011
•
DOI:
- 10.1016/S0370-2693(98)00101-4

Nonperturbative Methods and Extended Hadron Models in Field Theory. 3. Four-Dimensional Nonabelian Models

- Phys.Rev.D 10 (1974) 4138
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.10.4138

A Saddle Point Solution in the Weinberg-Salam Theory

- Phys.Rev.D 30 (1984) 2212,
- Berkeley SSC Workshop 1984:47,
- Snowmass Summer Study 1984:805
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.30.2212

Electroweak baryon number nonconservation in the early universe and in high-energy collisions

V.A. Rubakov
(
- Moscow, INR
)
,
M.E. Shaposhnikov
(
- CERN and
- Moscow, INR
)

- Usp.Fiz.Nauk 166 (1996) 493-537,
- Phys.Usp. 39 (1996) 461-502,
- Phys. Usp. 39 (1996) 1276. (Erratum)
•
e-Print:
- hep-ph/9603208
•
DOI:
- 10.1070/PU1996v039n05ABEH000145