Magnetic field on lattice U(1)-Higgs and SU(2)xU(1)-Higgs theories

Abstract

External (hyper)magnetic field can modify the phase structure in U(1) gauge+Higgs (Landau-Ginzburg) and SU(2)xU(1) gauge+Higgs (Standard Model) theories. In this talk I discuss how the magnetic field can be implemented on the lattice, and summarize the effects on symmetry breaking phase transitions.

Comments: 6 pages; talk given at the ECT* conference 'Understanding Deconfinement in QCD', Trento, Italy, March 1999