Deconfined SU(2) vector fields at zero temperature

Abstract

Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations of pure SU(2)xU(1) lattice gauge theory show a (zero temperature) deconfining phase transition in the SU(2) gluon sector when a term is added to the SU(2) and U(1) Wilson actions, which requires joint U(2) gauge transformations of the SU(2) and U(1) vector fields. Investigations of this deconfined phase are of interest as it could provide an alternative to the Higgs mechanism.