Two-dimensional phase structure of SU(2) gauge-Higgs model

Abstract

We study the phase structure of SU(2) gauge-Higgs model in two dimensions using lattice simulations. We show the result for the plaquette expectation value, static potential, and W propagator. Our results suggest that a confinement-like region and a Higgs-like region appear even in two dimensions. The behavior of the plaquette expectation value is consistent with a smooth cross-over in accordance with the Fradkin-Shenker-Osterwalder-Seiler theorem. In the confinement-like region, the static potential seems to rise linearly with string breaking at large distances, while in the Higgs-like region there seems to be a massive behavior which means that the BEH mechanism occurs. The correlation length obtained from the W propagator has a finite maximum between these phases, which supports no second-order phase transition. Based on these results, we suggest that there is no phase transition in two dimensions.