Abstract
We study the fermion Dirac sea along the minimal energy path between topologically distinct vacua in the electroweak theory. We follow in detail the interplay between the bound state and the continuum in the fermion creation and/or annihilation, as one passes from one vacuum to another. We calculate the quantum correction to the classical energy of the sphaleron barrier, arising from the fermion sea, and its contribution to the baryon number violation rate for nonzero temperatures. We find that the fermion fluctuations suppress that rate if the mass of the top quark is large enough.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
