Electroweak phase transition by four dimensional simulations

The finite temperature phase transition in the SU(2)-Higgs model at a Higgs boson mass $M_H \simeq 35$ GeV is studied in numerical simulations on four dimensional lattices with time-like extensions up to $L_t=5$. $T_c/M_H$ is extrapolated to the continuum limit and a comparison with the perturbative prediction is made. A one-loop calculation to the coupling anisotropies of the SU(2)-Higgs model on lattices with asymmetric lattice spacings is presented. Our numerical simulations show that the above perturbative result is applicable in the phenomenologically interesting parameter region.Comment: 3 pages, Latex, 3 figures, Talk presented at LATTICE96(electroweak) by Z. Fodo

Perturbative and non-perturbative studies of the SU(2)-Higgs model on lattices with asymmetric lattice spacings

We present a calculation of the O(g^2,\lambda) perturbative corrections to the coupling anisotropies of the SU(2)-Higgs model on lattices with asymmetric lattice spacings. These corrections are obtained by a one-loop calculation requiring the rotational invariance of the gauge and Higgs boson propagators in the continuum limit. The coupling anisotropies are also determined from numerical simulations of the model on appropriate lattices. The one-loop perturbation theory and the simulation results agree with high accuracy. It is demonstrated that rotational invariance is also restored for the static potential determined from space-space and space-time Wilson loops.Comment: 27pages, Latex, 7 figures (7 eps, 3 ps files), correction of misprint

QCD phase diagram and charge fluctuations

We discuss the phase structure and fluctuations of conserved charges in two flavor QCD. The importance of the density fluctuations to probe the existence of the critical end point is summarized. The role of these fluctuations to identify the first order phase transition in the presence of spinodal phase separation is also discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, plenary talk given at the 19th International Conference on Ultrarelativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions: Quark Matter 2006 (QM 2006), Shanghai, China, 14-20 Nov 200

Intrinsic volumes of random polytopes with vertices on the boundary of a convex body

Let $K$ be a convex body in $\R^d$, let $j\in\{1, ..., d-1\}$, and let $\varrho$ be a positive and continuous probability density function with respect to the $(d-1)$-dimensional Hausdorff measure on the boundary $\partial K$ of $K$. Denote by $K_n$ the convex hull of $n$ points chosen randomly and independently from $\partial K$ according to the probability distribution determined by $\varrho$. For the case when $\partial K$ is a $C^2$ submanifold of $\R^d$ with everywhere positive Gauss curvature, M. Reitzner proved an asymptotic formula for the expectation of the difference of the $j$th intrinsic volumes of $K$ and $K_n$, as $n\to\infty$. In this article, we extend this result to the case when the only condition on $K$ is that a ball rolls freely in $K$

On the dynamical breaking of chiral symmetry: a new mechanism

We consider a U(1) gauge theory, minimally coupled to a massless Dirac field, where a higher-derivative term is added to the pure gauge sector, as in the Lee-Wick models. We find that this term can trigger chiral symmetry breaking at low energy in the weak coupling regime. Then, the fermion field acquires a mass that turns out to be a function of both the energy scale associated to the higher-derivative term and the gauge coupling. The dependence of the fermion mass on the gauge coupling is non-perturbative. Extensions to SU(N) gauge theories and fermion-scalar interactions are also analyzed, as well as to theories with massive gauge fields. A few implications of these results in the framework of quark-mass generation are discussed.Comment: 15 pages 2 figures, a few comments and 4 references added. To appear in Physical Review

Interface Tension of the Electroweak Phase Transition

In our nonperturbative lattice investigation we study the interface tension of the finite-temperature electroweak phase transition. In this analysis the Higgs mass has been chosen to be about $35$ GeV. At the transition point of a finite volume system, tunnelling between the symmetric and the Higgs phase takes place. This phenomenon leads to a splitting of the ground state, which can be used to determine the interface tension. The result obtained this way agrees with the result of the two-coupling method and with the prediction of the perturbative approach.Comment: 10 pages, five figures in uuencoded PS format, Latex + epsf.st

A slowly rotating perfect fluid body in an ambient vacuum

A global model of a slowly rotating perfect fluid ball in general relativity is presented. To second order in the rotation parameter, the junction surface is an ellipsoidal cylinder. The interior is given by a limiting case of the Wahlquist solution, and the vacuum region is not asymptotically flat. The impossibility of joining an asymptotically flat vacuum region has been shown in a preceding work.Comment: 7 pages, published versio

Wilson Loops in string duals of Walking and Flavored Systems

We consider the VEV of Wilson loop operators by studying the behavior of string probes in solutions of Type IIB string theory generated by Nc D5 branes wrapped on an internal manifold. In particular, we focus on solutions to the background equations that are dual to field theories with a walking gauge coupling as well as for flavored systems. We present in detail our walking solution and emphasize various general aspects of the procedure to study Wilson loops using string duals. We discuss the special features that the strings show when probing the region associated with the walking of the field theory coupling.Comment: 28 pages. Various figures. Version to be published

Phase Fluctuations near the Chiral Critical Point

The Helmholtz free energy density is parametrized as a function of temperature and baryon density near the chiral critical point of QCD. The parametrization incorporates the expected critical exponents and amplitudes. An expansion away from equilibrium states is achieved with Landau theory. This is used to calculate the probability that the system is found at a density other than the equilibrium one. Such fluctuations are predicted to be very large in heavy ion collisions.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, Winter Workshop on Nuclear Dynamics 201