Higgs- and quark-inspired modifications of the finite-temperature properties of the Polyakov model

TL;DR

This paper investigates how finite Higgs boson mass and the inclusion of massless quarks alter the finite-temperature properties of the (2+1)-dimensional Polyakov model, revealing bounds on coupling and new thermal behaviors.

Contribution

It introduces Higgs- and quark-inspired modifications to the Polyakov model, analyzing their effects on finite-temperature dynamics and establishing bounds for weak-coupling validity.

Findings

Finite Higgs mass imposes an upper bound on weak-coupling parameters.

Massless quarks modify the model's finite-temperature behavior.

The study clarifies the conditions for stochastic Higgs vacuum stability.

Abstract

(2+1)-dimensional Georgi-Glashow model, else called the Polyakov model, is explored at nonzero temperatures and in the regime when the Higgs boson is not infinitely heavy. The finiteness of the Higgs-boson mass leads to the appearance of the upper bound on the parameter of the weak-coupling approximation, necessary to maintain the stochasticity of the Higgs vacuum. The modification of the finite-temperature behavior of the model emerging due to the introduction of massless quarks is also discussed.