Higgs Physics from the Lattice Lecture 3: Vacuum Instability and Higgs Mass Lower Bound
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An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory
AN INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM FIELD THEORY By Dr M Dasgupta University of Manchester Lecture presented at the School for Experimental High Energy Physics Students Somerville College, Oxford, September 2009 - 1 - - 2 - Contents 0 Prologue....................................................................................................... 5 1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 6 1.1 Lagrangian formalism in classical mechanics......................................... 6 1.2 Quantum mechanics................................................................................... 8 1.3 The Schrödinger picture........................................................................... 10 1.4 The Heisenberg picture............................................................................ 11 1.5 The quantum mechanical harmonic oscillator ..................................... 12 Problems .............................................................................................................. 13 2 Classical Field Theory............................................................................. 14 2.1 From N-point mechanics to field theory ............................................... 14 2.2 Relativistic field theory ............................................................................ 15 2.3 Action for a scalar field ............................................................................ 15 2.4 Plane wave solution to the Klein-Gordon equation ........................... -
Melting of the Higgs Vacuum: Conserved Numbers at High Temperature
PURD-TH-96-05 CERN-TH/96-167 hep-ph/9607386 July 1996 Melting of the Higgs Vacuum: Conserved Numbers at High Temperature S. Yu. Khlebnikov a,∗ and M. E. Shaposhnikov b,† a Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA b Theory Division, CERN, CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland Abstract We discuss the computation of the grand canonical partition sum describing hot mat- ter in systems with the Higgs mechanism in the presence of non-zero conserved global charges. We formulate a set of simple rules for that computation in the high-temperature approximation in the limit of small chemical potentials. As an illustration of the use of these rules, we calculate the leading term in the free energy of the standard model as a function of baryon number B. We show that this quantity depends continuously on the Higgs expectation value φ, with a crossover at φ ∼ T where Debye screening overtakes the Higgs mechanism—the Higgs vacuum “melts”. A number of confusions that exist in the literature regarding the B dependence of the free energy is clarified. PURD-TH-96-05 CERN-TH/96-167 July 1996 ∗[email protected] †[email protected] Screening of gauge fields by the Higgs mechanism is one of the central ideas both in modern particle physics and in condensed matter physics. It is often referred to as “spontaneous breaking” of a gauge symmetry, although, in the accurate sense of the word, gauge symmetries cannot be broken in the same way as global ones can. One might rather say that gauge charges are “hidden” by the Higgs mechanism. -
Physical Masses and the Vacuum Expectation Value
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE PHYSICAL MASSES AND THE VACUUM EXPECTATION VALUE provided by CERN Document Server OF THE HIGGS FIELD Hung Cheng Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139, U.S.A. and S.P.Li Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica Nankang, Taip ei, Taiwan, Republic of China Abstract By using the Ward-Takahashi identities in the Landau gauge, we derive exact relations between particle masses and the vacuum exp ectation value of the Higgs eld in the Ab elian gauge eld theory with a Higgs meson. PACS numb ers : 03.70.+k; 11.15-q 1 Despite the pioneering work of 't Ho oft and Veltman on the renormalizability of gauge eld theories with a sp ontaneously broken vacuum symmetry,a numb er of questions remain 2 op en . In particular, the numb er of renormalized parameters in these theories exceeds that of bare parameters. For such theories to b e renormalizable, there must exist relationships among the renormalized parameters involving no in nities. As an example, the bare mass M of the gauge eld in the Ab elian-Higgs theory is related 0 to the bare vacuum exp ectation value v of the Higgs eld by 0 M = g v ; (1) 0 0 0 where g is the bare gauge coupling constant in the theory.We shall show that 0 v u u D (0) T t g (0)v: (2) M = 2 D (M ) T 2 In (2), g (0) is equal to g (k )atk = 0, with the running renormalized gauge coupling constant de ned in (27), and v is the renormalized vacuum exp ectation value of the Higgs eld de ned in (29) b elow. -
B1. the Generating Functional Z[J]
B1. The generating functional Z[J] The generating functional Z[J] is a key object in quantum field theory - as we shall see it reduces in ordinary quantum mechanics to a limiting form of the 1-particle propagator G(x; x0jJ) when the particle is under thje influence of an external field J(t). However, before beginning, it is useful to look at another closely related object, viz., the generating functional Z¯(J) in ordinary probability theory. Recall that for a simple random variable φ, we can assign a probability distribution P (φ), so that the expectation value of any variable A(φ) that depends on φ is given by Z hAi = dφP (φ)A(φ); (1) where we have assumed the normalization condition Z dφP (φ) = 1: (2) Now let us consider the generating functional Z¯(J) defined by Z Z¯(J) = dφP (φ)eφ: (3) From this definition, it immediately follows that the "n-th moment" of the probability dis- tribution P (φ) is Z @nZ¯(J) g = hφni = dφP (φ)φn = j ; (4) n @J n J=0 and that we can expand Z¯(J) as 1 X J n Z Z¯(J) = dφP (φ)φn n! n=0 1 = g J n; (5) n! n ¯ so that Z(J) acts as a "generator" for the infinite sequence of moments gn of the probability distribution P (φ). For future reference it is also useful to recall how one may also expand the logarithm of Z¯(J); we write, Z¯(J) = exp[W¯ (J)] Z W¯ (J) = ln Z¯(J) = ln dφP (φ)eφ: (6) 1 Now suppose we make a power series expansion of W¯ (J), i.e., 1 X 1 W¯ (J) = C J n; (7) n! n n=0 where the Cn, known as "cumulants", are just @nW¯ (J) C = j : (8) n @J n J=0 The relationship between the cumulants Cn and moments gn is easily found. -
8. Quantum Field Theory on the Plane
8. Quantum Field Theory on the Plane In this section, we step up a dimension. We will discuss quantum field theories in d =2+1dimensions.Liketheird =1+1dimensionalcounterparts,thesetheories have application in various condensed matter systems. However, they also give us further insight into the kinds of phases that can arise in quantum field theory. 8.1 Electromagnetism in Three Dimensions We start with Maxwell theory in d =2=1.ThegaugefieldisAµ,withµ =0, 1, 2. The corresponding field strength describes a single magnetic field B = F12,andtwo electric fields Ei = F0i.Weworkwiththeusualaction, 1 S = d3x F F µ⌫ + A jµ (8.1) Maxwell − 4e2 µ⌫ µ Z The gauge coupling has dimension [e2]=1.Thisisimportant.ItmeansthatU(1) gauge theories in d =2+1dimensionscoupledtomatterarestronglycoupledinthe infra-red. In this regard, these theories di↵er from electromagnetism in d =3+1. We can start by thinking classically. The Maxwell equations are 1 @ F µ⌫ = j⌫ e2 µ Suppose that we put a test charge Q at the origin. The Maxwell equations reduce to 2A = Qδ2(x) r 0 which has the solution Q r A = log +constant 0 2⇡ r ✓ 0 ◆ for some arbitrary r0. We learn that the potential energy V (r)betweentwocharges, Q and Q,separatedbyadistancer, increases logarithmically − Q2 r V (r)= log +constant (8.2) 2⇡ r ✓ 0 ◆ This is a form of confinement, but it’s an extremely mild form of confinement as the log function grows very slowly. For obvious reasons, it’s usually referred to as log confinement. –384– In the absence of matter, we can look for propagating degrees of freedom of the gauge field itself. -
Quantum Mechanics Propagator
Quantum Mechanics_propagator This article is about Quantum field theory. For plant propagation, see Plant propagation. In Quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, the propagator gives the probability amplitude for a particle to travel from one place to another in a given time, or to travel with a certain energy and momentum. In Feynman diagrams, which calculate the rate of collisions in quantum field theory, virtual particles contribute their propagator to the rate of the scattering event described by the diagram. They also can be viewed as the inverse of the wave operator appropriate to the particle, and are therefore often called Green's functions. Non-relativistic propagators In non-relativistic quantum mechanics the propagator gives the probability amplitude for a particle to travel from one spatial point at one time to another spatial point at a later time. It is the Green's function (fundamental solution) for the Schrödinger equation. This means that, if a system has Hamiltonian H, then the appropriate propagator is a function satisfying where Hx denotes the Hamiltonian written in terms of the x coordinates, δ(x)denotes the Dirac delta-function, Θ(x) is the Heaviside step function and K(x,t;x',t')is the kernel of the differential operator in question, often referred to as the propagator instead of G in this context, and henceforth in this article. This propagator can also be written as where Û(t,t' ) is the unitary time-evolution operator for the system taking states at time t to states at time t'. The quantum mechanical propagator may also be found by using a path integral, where the boundary conditions of the path integral include q(t)=x, q(t')=x' . -
Verlinde's Emergent Gravity and Whitehead's Actual Entities
The Founding of an Event-Ontology: Verlinde's Emergent Gravity and Whitehead's Actual Entities by Jesse Sterling Bettinger A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Claremont Graduate University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Faculty of Religion and Economics Claremont, California 2015 Approved by: ____________________________ ____________________________ © Copyright by Jesse S. Bettinger 2015 All Rights Reserved Abstract of the Dissertation The Founding of an Event-Ontology: Verlinde's Emergent Gravity and Whitehead's Actual Entities by Jesse Sterling Bettinger Claremont Graduate University: 2015 Whitehead’s 1929 categoreal framework of actual entities (AE’s) are hypothesized to provide an accurate foundation for a revised theory of gravity to arise compatible with Verlinde’s 2010 emergent gravity (EG) model, not as a fundamental force, but as the result of an entropic force. By the end of this study we should be in position to claim that the EG effect can in fact be seen as an integral sub-sequence of the AE process. To substantiate this claim, this study elaborates the conceptual architecture driving Verlinde’s emergent gravity hypothesis in concert with the corresponding structural dynamics of Whitehead’s philosophical/scientific logic comprising actual entities. This proceeds to the extent that both are shown to mutually integrate under the event-based covering logic of a generative process underwriting experience and physical ontology. In comparing the components of both frameworks across the epistemic modalities of pure philosophy, string theory, and cosmology/relativity physics, this study utilizes a geomodal convention as a pre-linguistic, neutral observation language—like an augur between the two theories—wherein a visual event-logic is progressively enunciated in concert with the specific details of both models, leading to a cross-pollinized language of concepts shown to mutually inform each other. -
The Quantum Vacuum and the Cosmological Constant Problem
The Quantum Vacuum and the Cosmological Constant Problem S.E. Rugh∗and H. Zinkernagel† Abstract - The cosmological constant problem arises at the intersection be- tween general relativity and quantum field theory, and is regarded as a fun- damental problem in modern physics. In this paper we describe the historical and conceptual origin of the cosmological constant problem which is intimately connected to the vacuum concept in quantum field theory. We critically dis- cuss how the problem rests on the notion of physical real vacuum energy, and which relations between general relativity and quantum field theory are assumed in order to make the problem well-defined. Introduction Is empty space really empty? In the quantum field theories (QFT’s) which underlie modern particle physics, the notion of empty space has been replaced with that of a vacuum state, defined to be the ground (lowest energy density) state of a collection of quantum fields. A peculiar and truly quantum mechanical feature of the quantum fields is that they exhibit zero-point fluctuations everywhere in space, even in regions which are otherwise ‘empty’ (i.e. devoid of matter and radiation). These zero-point arXiv:hep-th/0012253v1 28 Dec 2000 fluctuations of the quantum fields, as well as other ‘vacuum phenomena’ of quantum field theory, give rise to an enormous vacuum energy density ρvac. As we shall see, this vacuum energy density is believed to act as a contribution to the cosmological constant Λ appearing in Einstein’s field equations from 1917, 1 8πG R g R Λg = T (1) µν − 2 µν − µν c4 µν where Rµν and R refer to the curvature of spacetime, gµν is the metric, Tµν the energy-momentum tensor, G the gravitational constant, and c the speed of light. -
Gauge-Independent Higgs Mechanism and the Implications for Quark Confinement
EPJ Web of Conferences 137, 03009 (2017) DOI: 10.1051/ epjconf/201713703009 XIIth Quark Confinement & the Hadron Spectrum Gauge-independent Higgs mechanism and the implications for quark confinement Kei-Ichi Kondo1;a 1Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan Abstract. We propose a gauge-invariant description for the Higgs mechanism by which a gauge boson acquires the mass. We do not need to assume spontaneous breakdown of gauge symmetry signaled by a non-vanishing vacuum expectation value of the scalar field. In fact, we give a manifestly gauge-invariant description of the Higgs mechanism in the operator level, which does not rely on spontaneous symmetry breaking. For concrete- ness, we discuss the gauge-Higgs models with U(1) and SU(2) gauge groups explicitly. This enables us to discuss the confinement-Higgs complementarity from a new perspec- tive. 1 Introduction Spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) is an important concept in physics. It is known that SSB occurs when the lowest energy state or the vacuum is degenerate [1]. First, we consider the SSB of the global continuous symmetry G = U(1). The complex scalar field theory described by the following Lagrangian density Lcs has the global U(1) symmetry: ! 2 2 ∗ µ ∗ ∗ λ ∗ µ L = @µϕ @ ϕ − V(ϕ ϕ); V(ϕ ϕ) = ϕ ϕ − ; ϕ 2 C; λ > 0; (1) cs 2 λ where ∗ denotes the complex conjugate and the classical stability of the theory requires λ > 0. Indeed, this theory has the global U(1) symmetry, since Lcs is invariant under the global U(1) transformation, i.e., the phase transformation: ϕ(x) ! eiθϕ(x): (2) If the potential has the unique minimum (µ2 ≤ 0) as shown in the left panel of Fig. -
The Minkowski Quantum Vacuum Does Not Gravitate
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by KITopen Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect Nuclear Physics B 946 (2019) 114694 www.elsevier.com/locate/nuclphysb The Minkowski quantum vacuum does not gravitate Viacheslav A. Emelyanov Institute for Theoretical Physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany Received 9 April 2019; received in revised form 24 June 2019; accepted 8 July 2019 Available online 12 July 2019 Editor: Stephan Stieberger Abstract We show that a non-zero renormalised value of the zero-point energy in λφ4-theory over Minkowski spacetime is in tension with the scalar-field equation at two-loop order in perturbation theory. © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Funded by SCOAP3. 1. Introduction Quantum fields give rise to an infinite vacuum energy density [1–4], which arises from quantum-field fluctuations taking place even in the absence of matter. Yet, assuming that semi- classical quantum field theory is reliable only up to the Planck-energy scale, the cut-off estimate yields zero-point-energy density which is finite, though, but in a notorious tension with astro- physical observations. In the presence of matter, however, there are quantum effects occurring in nature, which can- not be understood without quantum-field fluctuations. These are the spontaneous emission of a photon by excited atoms, the Lamb shift, the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron, and so forth [5]. This means quantum-field fluctuations do manifest themselves in nature and, hence, the zero-point energy poses a serious problem. -
Spontaneously Broken Gauge Theories and the Coset Construction
Spontaneously Broken Gauge Theories and the Coset Construction Garrett Goon,a Austin Joyce,b and Mark Troddena aCenter for Particle Cosmology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA bEnrico Fermi Institute and Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637 Abstract The methods of non-linear realizations have proven to be powerful in studying the low energy physics resulting from spontaneously broken internal and spacetime symmetries. In this paper, we reconsider how these techniques may be applied to the case of spontaneously broken gauge theories, concentrating on Yang–Mills theories. We find that coset methods faithfully reproduce the description of low energy physics in terms of massive gauge bosons and discover that the St¨uckelberg replacement commonly employed when treating massive gauge theories arises in a natural manner. Uses of the methods are considered in various contexts, including general- izations to p-form gauge fields. We briefly discuss potential applications of the techniques to theories of massive gravity and their possible interpretation as a Higgs phase of general relativity. arXiv:1405.5532v2 [hep-th] 5 Jun 2014 Contents 1 Introduction 2 2 General Coset Methods 4 2.1 InternalSymmetryBreaking. ........ 4 2.2 SpacetimeSymmetryBreaking . ....... 6 3 Yang–Mills As A Nonlinear Realization 7 3.1 TheLocalYang–MillsAlgebra . ....... 8 3.2 UnbrokenPhase ................................... 9 3.2.1 Maurer–Cartan Form and Inverse Higgs . ....... 9 3.2.2 Symmetries .................................... 10 3.2.3 Construction of the Action . ..... 10 3.2.4 Chern–SimonsasaWess–ZuminoTerm . ..... 11 3.3 SpontaneouslyBrokenPhase . ....... 13 3.3.1 Maurer–Cartan Form and Inverse Higgs . -
The Higgs Vacuum Is Unstable
The Higgs vacuum is unstable Archil Kobakhidze and Alexander Spencer-Smith ARC Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics at the Terascale, School of Physics, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 E-mails: [email protected], [email protected] Abstract So far, the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have shown no sign of new physics beyond the Standard Model. Assuming the Standard Model is correct at presently available energies, we can accurately extrapolate the theory to higher energies in order to verify its validity. Here we report the results of new high precision calcula- tions which show that absolute stability of the Higgs vacuum state is now excluded. Combining these new results with the recent observa- tion of primordial gravitational waves by the BICEP Collaboration, we find that the Higgs vacuum state would have quickly decayed dur- ing cosmic inflation, leading to a catastrophic collapse of the universe into a black hole. Thus, we are driven to the conclusion that there must be some new physics beyond the Standard Model at energies below the instability scale Λ 109 GeV, which is responsible for the I ∼ stabilisation of the Higgs vacuum. arXiv:1404.4709v2 [hep-ph] 22 Apr 2014 1 Introduction The Higgs mechanism [1, 2, 3, 4] employed within the Standard Model pro- vides masses for all the elementary particles, except neutrinos. These masses (mi) are universally proportional to the respective constants of interaction between the elementary particles and the Higgs boson: mi = λiv, where −1/2 v √2G 246 GeV is the Higgs vacuum expectation value, which, ≡ F ≈ in turn, is defined through the measurements of the Fermi constant GF in 1 weak processes (e.g., week decays of muon).