Higher-dimensional operators at finite temperature affect gravitational-wave predictions

Article Article scientifique Article Higher-dimensional operators at finite temperature affect gravitational-wave predictions eng 2025-08-14 2025 author Bernardo Fabio Geneva U. 429324 Département de physique théorique (FITEO) author Klose Philipp Bern U. author Schicho Philipp Geneva U. 422129 Département de physique théorique (FITEO) author Tenkanen Tuomas V.I. Helsinki Inst. of Phys. 109 10.1007/JHEP08(2025)109 1029-8479 2503.18904 https://link.springer.com/10.1007/JHEP08(2025)109 We investigate the effect of higher-dimensional marginal operators on the thermodynamics of cosmological phase transitions. Using the Abelian Higgs model as a representative for radiatively-generated one-step transitions, we systematically match these operators, which arise at higher orders in the underlying high-temperature expansion of thermal effective field theory, and use field redefinitions to construct a complete, minimal, and gauge-invariant operator basis. The Abelian Higgs model shares the essential infrared structure of more realistic gauge-Higgs theories at high temperatures, allowing us to test the validity of dimensional reduction in a simplified setting. We argue that for strong transitions, temporal gauge modes, which enhance the transition strength, should be treated on equal footing with spatial ones. Marginal operators are found to weaken the transition and introduce significant uncertainties for strong transitions. For transitions strong enough to produce gravitational waves detectable by LISA, our findings suggest that the high-temperature expansion may break down entirely. This would limit the applicability of effective theory techniques, including their use in non-perturbative lattice studies. Cosmology of Theories BSM Effective Field Theories Phase Transitions in the Early Universe Thermal Field Theory Dewey 500.2 37 Département de physique théorique 133 false The journal of high energy physics 08 8 90564b8c-9ffe-427f-8b9d-c23878af86eb Article (Published version) Public Article_scientifique_from_unpaywall.pdf 1340803 application/pdf CC BY eaba66f0364bc083a38d217fcbccd629e521608713854518a794612682113ecf openAccess Faculté des sciences / Section de physique / Département de physique théorique

Title	Published in	Access level	OA Policy	Year	Views	Downloads

Higher-dimensional operators at finite temperature affect gravitational-wave predictions	The journal of high energy physics			2025	10	295

Archive ouverte UNIGE

Bernardo, Fabio