From instantons to sphalerons: Time-dependent periodic solutions of SU(2)-Higgs theory - art. no. 105021

We solve numerically for periodic, spherically symmetric, classical solutio ns of SU(2)-Higgs theory in four-dimensional Euclidean space. In the limit of short periods the solutions approach tiny instanton-antiinstanton superp ositions while, for longer periods, the solutions merge with the static sph aleron. A previously predicted bifurcation point. where two branches of per iodic solutions meet, appears for Higgs boson masses larger than 3.091M(W). [S0556-2821(99)02520-5].