Quantum Field Theory, Effective Potentials and Determinants of Elliptic Operators
Date
2010-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The effective potential augments the classical potential with the quantum effects of
virtual particles, and permits the study of spontaneous symmetry breaking.
In contrast to the standard approach where the classical potential already leads to
electroweak symmetry-breaking, the Coleman-Weinberg mechanism explores
quantum corrections as the source of symmetry-breaking.
This thesis explores
extensions of the Coleman -Weinberg mechanism to the situations with more than one Higgs doublet.
These multi-Higgs models have a long history , and occur most naturally in the
Minimal Supersymmetric model.
Mathematical foundations of the zeta function method will be developed and then applied
to regularise the one-loop computation of the effective potentials in a model with two scalar fields.
Description
Keywords
Quantum Field theory
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Physics and Engineering Physics
Program
Physics and Engineering Physics