Convexity property of the variational approximations to the effective potential

Journal Article · Thu Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.41.1948· OSTI ID:7187644

Branchina, V; Castorina, P; Zappala, D ^[1]

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1. Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Catania, Catania, Italy (IT) Istituto Nazionale Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Catania, Catania, Italy (IT)

The convexity property of the variational approximations to the effective potential is analyzed both in quantum mechanics and in {lambda}{phi}{sup 4} field theory. A simple calculational scheme, based on the generalization of the Gaussian functionals subspace, allows one to reproduce this fundamental feature of the exact effective potential to a very high degree of accuracy. A criterion to clarify the occurrence of spontaneous symmetry breaking in the presence of a flat effective potential is proposed.

• OSTI ID: 7187644
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (USA) Vol. 41:6; ISSN PRVDA; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
657002 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Classical & Quantum Mechanics
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ANHARMONIC OSCILLATORS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FIELD THEORIES
FUNCTIONS
GAUSSIAN PROCESSES
HAMILTONIANS
MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS
MECHANICS
OSCILLATORS
PHI4-FIELD THEORY
POTENTIALS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUANTUM MECHANICS
QUANTUM OPERATORS
SYMMETRY BREAKING
VARIATIONAL METHODS
WAVE FUNCTIONS