3d physics and the electroweak phase transition: a framework for lattice Monte Carlo analysis

Abstract

We discuss a framework relying on both perturbative and non-perturbative lattice computations which will be able to reliably determine the parameters of the EW phase transition. A motivation for the use of 3d effective theory in the lattice simulations, rather than the complete 4d one, is provided. We introduce and compute on the 2-loop level a number of gauge-invariant order parameters -- condensates, which can be measured with high accuracy in MC simulations. The relation between MSbar and lattice condensates is found, together with the relation between lattice couplings and continuum parameters (the constant physics curves). These relations are exact in the continuum limit.Comment: 50 pages, uuencoded compressed postscript fil