Path-integral fermion-boson decoupling at finite temperature

We show how to extend the standard functional approach to bosonisation, based on a decoupling change of path-integral variables, to the case in which a finite temperature is considered. As examples, in order to both illustrate and check the procedure, we derive the thermodynamical partition functions for the Thirring and Schwinger models.Comment: 12 pages, latex, no figure

Threshold Effects And Perturbative Unification

We discuss the effect of the renormalization procedure in the computation of the unification point for running coupling constants. We explore the effects of threshold--crossing on the $\beta$--functions. We compute the running of the coupling constants of the Standard Model, between $m_Z$ and $M_P$, using a mass dependent subtraction procedure, and then compare the results with $\bar{MS}$, and with the $\theta$-- function approximation. We also do this for the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model. In the latter, the bounds on susy masses that one obtains by requiring perturbative unification are dependent, to some extent, on the procedure.Comment: 22 pages, REVTEX-2.1, 6 Post-Script figures are include

Self-dual Ginzburg-Landau vortices in a disk

We study the properties of the Ginzburg-Laundau model in the self-dual point for a two-dimensional finite system . By a numerical calculation we analyze the solutions of the Euler-Lagrange equations for a cylindrically symmetric ansatz. We also study the self-dual equations for this case. We find that the minimal energy configurations are not given by the Bogomol'nyi equations but by solutions to the Euler Lagrange ones. With a simple approximation scheme we reproduce the result of the numerical calculation.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, RevTex macro

Friedel oscillations in a Luttinger liquid with long-range interactions

We introduce a path-integral approach that allows to compute charge density oscillations in a Luttinger liquid with impurities. We obtain an explicit expression for the envelope of Friedel oscillations in the presence of arbitrary electron-electron potentials. As examples, in order to illustrate the procedure, we show how to use our formula for contact and Coulomb potentials.Comment: 11 pages, no figures, latex. Revised version to appear in PR