Phase structure of electroweak vacuum in a strong magnetic field: the lattice results

Abstract

Using first-principle lattice simulations, we demonstrate that in the background of a strong magnetic field (around $10^{20}$ T), the electroweak sector of the vacuum experiences two consecutive crossover transitions associated with dramatic changes in the zero-temperature dynamics of the vector $W$ bosons and the scalar Higgs particles, respectively. Above the first crossover, we observe the appearance of large, inhomogeneous structures consistent with a classical picture of the formation of $W$ and $Z$ condensates pierced by vortices. The presence of the $W$ and $Z$ condensates supports the emergence of the exotic superconducting and superfluid properties induced by a strong magnetic field in the vacuum. We find evidence that the vortices form a disordered solid or a liquid rather than a crystal. The second transition restores the electroweak symmetry. Such conditions can be realized in the near-horizon region of the magnetized black holes.

Comments: 11 pages, 4 figures (text + supplementary material); v2: minor improvements, matches published version; a short illustratory video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TCZcLZWIBk