First-order phase transitions in a U(1)-lattice-gauge—Higgs theory

Abstract

A U(1) lattice-gauge theory coupled to a radially variable scalar (Higgs) field in the fundamental representation is studied using Monte Carlo techniques. We present the phase diagram of the theory at zero temperature on a ${4}^{4}$ Euclidean lattice. First-order Higgs-Coulomb transitions, which suggest the realization of the Coleman-Weinberg mechanism, and first-order Higgs-confinement transitions are observed.