Five-Dimensional Gauge-Higgs Unification: A Standard Model-Like Spectrum

TL;DR

This paper investigates five-dimensional gauge theories on an orbifold lattice, demonstrating that near a phase transition, the model produces a Standard Model-like Higgs-to-gauge boson mass ratio and exhibits dimensional reduction.

Contribution

It introduces a lattice-based five-dimensional $SU(2)$ gauge theory with orbifold boundary conditions, revealing phases and mass ratios similar to the Standard Model.

Findings

Identifies three phases: confined, Higgs, and hybrid.

Near the Higgs-hybrid transition, the mass ratio mimics the Standard Model.

Shows dimensional reduction through localization in the Higgs phase.

Abstract

We study the viability of five-dimensional gauge theories as candidates for the origin of the Higgs field and its mechanism for spontaneous symmetry breaking. Within the framework of lattice field theory, we consider the simplest model of an $SU(2)$ gauge theory. We construct this theory on a five-dimensional orbifold which explicitly breaks the gauge symmetry to $U(1)$ at the fixed points of the orbifold. Using anisotropic gauge couplings, we find that this theory exhibits three distinct phases which we label as confined, Higgs and hybrid. Within the Higgs phase, close to the Higgs-hybrid phase transition, we find that the ratio of the Higgs to gauge boson masses takes Standard Model-like values. Precisely in this region of the phase diagram, we find dimensional reduction via localisation.