Gauge dependence of the standard model effective potential at two-loop order

The effective potential of the standard model of electroweak unification is determined at two-loop order in a linear gauge involving two massless and two massive gauge fixing parameters. The divergent and logarithmic terms involving the massive gauge parameters are found to be determined also by the gauge parameter identities. The renormalization group method for summing logarithms is shown to be applicable also at scales below that of the massive gauge parameters.

Automated summary

This paper calculates the effective potential of the standard model of electroweak unification at two-loop order, considering a linear gauge with two massless and two massive gauge fixing parameters. It is found that the divergent and logarithmic terms involving the massive gauge parameters are determined by the gauge parameter identities. Additionally, the renormalization group method for summing logarithms is shown to be applicable at scales below that of the massive gauge parameters.