Physics of the Electroweak Phase Transition at M_H <= 70 GeV in a 3-dimensional SU(2)-Higgs Model

Physical parameters of the electroweak phase transition in a 3d effective lattice SU(2)-Higgs model are presented. The phase transition temperatures, latent heats and continuum condensate discontinuities are measured at Higgs masses of about 70 and 35 GeV. Masses and Higgs condensates are compared to perturbation theory in the broken phase. In the symmetric phase bound states and the static force are determined.Comment: Talk presented at LATTICE96(electroweak), 4 pages, 5 figure

Detailed Phase Transition Study at M_H <= 70 GeV in a 3-dimensional SU(2)SU(2)--Higgs Model

We study the electroweak phase transition in an effective 3-dimensional theory for a Higgs mass of about 70 GeV by Monte Carlo simulations. The transition temperature and jumps of order parameters are obtained and extrapolated to the continuum using multi-histogram techniques and finite size analysis.Comment: Talk presented at LATTICE96(electroweak), 4 pages, 5 figure

Four-dimensional Simulation of the Hot Electroweak Phase Transition with the SU(2) Gauge-Higgs Model

We study the finite-temperature phase transition of the four-dimensional SU(2) gauge-Higgs model for intermediate values of the Higgs boson mass in the range 50 \lsim m_H \lsim 100GeV on a lattice with the temporal lattice size $N_t=2$. The order of the transition is systematically examined using finite size scaling methods. Behavior of the interface tension and the latent heat for an increasing Higgs boson mass is also investigated.Comment: Talk presented at LATTICE96(electroweak), 3 pages of LaTeX, 4 PostScript figure

3-D lattice simulation of the electroweak phase transition at small Higgs mass

We study the electroweak phase transition by lattice simulations of an effective 3-dimensional theory, for a Higgs mass of about $35 GeV$. In the broken symmetry phase our results on masses and the Higgs condensate are consistent with 2-loop perturbative results. However, we find a non-perturbative lowering of the transition temperature, similar to the one previously found at $m_H = 80 GeV$. For the symmetric phase, bound state masses and the static force are determined and compared with results for pure $SU(2)$ theory.Comment: 11 pages, uuencoded ps-file, 5 postscript figures include

The mechanism for the 3 x 3 distortion of Sn/ge (111)

We show that two distinct $3 \times 3$ ground states, one nonmagnetic, metallic, and distorted, the other magnetic, semimetallic (or insulating) and undistorted, compete in $\alpha$-phase adsorbates on semiconductor (111) surfaces. In Sn/Ge(111), LSDA/GGA calculations indicate, in agreement with experiment, that the distorted metallic ground state prevails. The reason for stability of this state is analysed, and is traced to a sort of bond density wave, specifically a modulation of the antibonding state filling between the adatom and a Ge-Ge bond directly underneath

Where the electroweak phase transition ends

We give a more precise characterisation of the end of the electroweak phase transition in the framework of the effective 3d SU(2)--Higgs lattice model than has been given before. The model has now been simulated at gauge couplings beta_G=12 and 16 for Higgs masses M_H^*=70, 74, 76 and 80 GeV up to lattices 96^3 and the data have been used for reweighting. The breakdown of finite volume scaling of the Lee-Yang zeroes indicates the change from a first order transition to a crossover at lambda_3/g_3^2=0.102(2) in rough agreement with results of Karsch et al (hep-lat/9608087) at \beta_G=9 and smaller lattices. The infinite volume extrapolation of the discontinuity Delta /g_3^2 turns out to be zero at lambda_3/g_3^2=0.107(2) being an upper limit. We comment on the limitations of the second method.Comment: RevTeX, 19 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables; additional MC-data near the endpoint considere

Sphaleron Effects Near the Critical Temperature

We discuss one-loop radiative corrections to the sphaleron-induced baryon number-violating transition rate near the electroweak phase transition in the standard model. We emphasize that in the case of a first-order transition a rearrangement of the loop expansion is required close to the transition temperature. The corresponding expansion parameter, the effective 3-dimensional gauge coupling approaches a finite $\lambda$ dependent value at the critical temperature. The $\lambda$ (Higgs mass) dependence of the 1-loop radiative corrections is discussed in the framework of the heat kernel method. Radiative corrections are small compared to the leading sphaleron contribution as long as the Higgs mass is small compared to the W mass. To 1-loop accuracy, there is no Higgs mass range compatible with experimental limits where washing-out of a B+L asymmetry could be avoided for the minimal standard model with one Higgs doublet.Comment: 17 pages, RevTeX, (4 figures in a separate uuencoded file), HD-THEP-93-23re

Surface Phase Transitions Induced by Electron Mediated Adatom-Adatom Interaction

We propose that the indirect adatom-adatom interaction mediated by the conduction electrons of a metallic surface is responsible for the $\sqrt{3}\times \sqrt{3}\Leftrightarrow 3\times 3$ structural phase transitions observed in Sn/Ge (111) and Pb/Ge (111). When the indirect interaction overwhelms the local stress field imposed by the substrate registry, the system suffers a phonon instability, resulting in a structural phase transition in the adlayer. Our theory is capable of explaining all the salient features of the $\sqrt{3}\times \sqrt{3}\Leftrightarrow 3\times 3$ transitions observed in Sn/Ge (111) and Pb/Ge (111), and is in principle applicable to a wide class of systems whose surfaces are metallic before the transition.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Enterobacter bugandensis: a novel enterobacterial species associated with severe clinical infection

Nosocomial pathogens can cause life-threatening infections in neonates and immunocompromised patients. E. bugandensis (EB-247) is a recently described species of Enterobacter, associated with neonatal sepsis. Here we demonstrate that the extended spectrum betha-lactam (ESBL) producing isolate EB-247 is highly virulent in both Galleria mellonella and mouse models of infection. Infection studies in a streptomycin-treated mouse model showed that EB-247 is as efficient as Salmonella Typhimurium in inducing systemic infection and release of proinflammatory cytokines. Sequencing and analysis of the complete genome and plasmid revealed that virulence properties are associated with the chromosome, while antibiotic-resistance genes are exclusively present on a 299 kb IncHI plasmid. EB-247 grew in high concentrations of human serum indicating septicemic potential. Using whole genome-based transcriptome analysis we found 7% of the genome was mobilized for growth in serum. Upregulated genes include those involved in the iron uptake and storage as well as metabolism. The lasso peptide microcin J25 (MccJ25), an inhibitor of iron-uptake and RNA polymerase activity, inhibited EB-247 growth. Our studies indicate that Enterobacter bugandensis is a highly pathogenic species of the genus Enterobacter. Further studies on the colonization and virulence potential of E. bugandensis and its association with septicemic infection is now warranted

Phase transitions in two dimensions - the case of Sn adsorbed on Ge(111) surfaces

Accurate atomic coordinates of the room-temperature (root3xroot3)R30degree and low-temperature (3x3) phases of 1/3 ML Sn on Ge(111) have been established by grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation. The Sn atoms are located solely at T4-sites in the (root3xroot3)R30degree structure. In the low temperature phase one of the three Sn atoms per (3x3) unit cell is displaced outwards by 0.26 +/- 0.04 A relative to the other two. This displacement is accompanied by an increase in the first to second double-layer spacing in the Ge substrate.Comment: RevTeX, 5 pages including 2 figure