d dimensional SO(d)-Higgs models with an instanton and sphaleron: d=2,3 - art. no. 125015

The Abelian Higgs model and the Georgi-Glashow model in two and three Eucli dean dimensions, respectively, support both finite-size instantons and spha lerons. The instantons are the familiar Nielsen-Oleson vortices and the 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole solutions, respectively. We have constructed the sp haleron solutions and calculated the Chem-Simons charges Ncs for sphalerons of both models and have constructed two types of noncontractible loops bet ween topologically distinct vacua. In the three-dimensional model, the spha leron and the vacua have a zero magnetic and electric flux while the config urations on the loops have a nonvanishing magnetic flux. [S0556-2821(99)029 22-7].