Real scalar phase transitions: a nonperturbative analysis

TL;DR

This paper investigates thermal phase transitions in a generic real scalar field, combining perturbative and nonperturbative lattice methods to analyze the transition's nature and the reliability of perturbation theory across different coupling regimes.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive nonperturbative analysis of scalar phase transitions, highlighting the limits of perturbation theory and demonstrating the effectiveness of lattice simulations in this context.

Findings

Lattice results agree with perturbation theory for strong first-order transitions.

Perturbation theory breaks down near the Z2-symmetric second-order transition.

Renormalization group improves the validity range of perturbative calculations.

Abstract

We study the thermal phase transitions of a generic real scalar field, without a $Z_2$-symmetry, referred to variously as an inert, sterile or singlet scalar, or $\phi^3+\phi^4$ theory. Such a scalar field arises in a wide range of models, including as the inflaton, or as a portal to the dark sector. At high temperatures, we perform dimensional reduction, matching to an effective theory in three dimensions, which we then study both perturbatively to three-loop order and on the lattice. For strong first-order transitions, with large tree-level cubic couplings, our lattice Monte-Carlo simulations agree with perturbation theory within error. However, as the size of the cubic coupling decreases, relative to the quartic coupling, perturbation theory becomes less and less reliable, breaking down completely in the approach to the $Z_2$-symmetric limit, in which the transition is of second order. Notwithstanding, the renormalisation group is shown to significantly extend the validity of perturbation theory. Throughout, our calculations are made as explicit as possible so that this article may serve as a guide for similar calculations in other theories.