Searching for novel objects in the electroweak theory
Name
56210855-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
3.64 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
175444f1c8345f69fbeefd28844d612f
Author(s)
Khemani, Vishesh, 1975-
Advisor(s)
Edward H. Farhi.
Date Issued
2004
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
We explore the Higgs-Gauge configuration space in the standard electroweak theory. We outline a general prescription that uses the non-trivial topology associated with the gauge group of the theory, to find known solutions of the Euclidean classical equations of motion and motivate the existence of novel ones. In Minkowski spacetime we present evidence for the existence of approximate breathers - long-lived, spatially localized, temporally periodic configurations. We consider heavy fermion quantum fluctuations about static Higgs-Gauge configurations, and argue for the existence of stable fermionic solitons. These could resolve the fermion decoupling puzzle in chiral gauge theories. We describe our search for a fermionic soliton within a spherical ansatz, and discuss the quantum corrected sphaleron and the emergence of new barriers suppressing the decay of heavy fermions. Finally, we consider electroweak strings and how they could give rise to stable multi-quark objects.
Description
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-109).
Subjects
Physics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
Terms of Use
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