Phase diagrams of lattice gauge theories with Higgs fields

Journal Article · Fri Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Phys. Rev., D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.19.3682· OSTI ID:6248890

Fradkin, E; Shenker, S H

We study the phase diagram of lattice gauge theories coupled to fixed-length scalar (Higgs) fields. We consider several gauge groups: Z/sub 2/, U(1), and SU(N). We find that when the Higgs fields transform like the fundamental representation of the gauge group, Higgs fields and confinement belong to the same phase of the theory. There is no phase boundary between them, and all operators have the same qualitative behavior. When the Higgs fields transform like some representation other than the fundamental, a phase boundary may exist. This is the case for SU(N) with all the Higgs fields in the adjoint representation and for U(1) with all the Higgs fields in the charge-N (N > 1) representation. We present an argument due to Wegner that indicates the stability of the pure gauge transition. Another phase, free charge or Coulomb, is generally present. In this regime, the spectrum of the theory contains massless gauge bosons (for continuous groups) and finite-energy states that represent free charges.

• Research Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
• OSTI ID: 6248890
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., D; (United States) Vol. 19:12; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645301* -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Invariance Principles & Symmetries-- General-- (-1987)
645400 -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
DIAGRAMS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
GAUGE INVARIANCE
HIGGS MODEL
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
LATTICE FIELD THEORY
LIE GROUPS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PARTICLE MODELS
PHASE DIAGRAMS
SCALAR FIELDS
SPACE-TIME
SU GROUPS
SYMMETRY GROUPS