Phase transitions in massless scalar QED with non-minimally coupled Chern-Simons term

Abstract

2+1 dimensional massless scalar QED with (φ ∗φ) 3 scalar self-coupling is modified by the addition of a non-minimal Chern-Simons term that couples the dual of the electromagnetic field strength to the covariant current of the complex scalar field. At the one-loop level the effective potential for the scalar field gives rise to spontaneous symmetry breaking which induces masses for both the scalar and vector fields. The symmetry is restored at high temperature via a first order phase transition.