Explicit construction of constrained instantons

Abstract

Instantons in massless theories do not carry over to massive theories due to Derrick's theorem. This theorem can, however, be circumvented, if a constraint that restricts the scale of the instanton is imposed on the theory. Constrained instantons are considered in four dimensions in phi^4 theory and SU(2) Yang-Mills-Higgs theory. In each of these theories a calculational sceme is set up and solved in the lowest few orders in the mass parameter in such a way that the need for a constraint is exhibited clearly. Constrained instantons are shown to exist as finite action solutions of the field equations with exponential fall off only for specific constraints that are unique in lowest order in the mass parameter in question.