SU(2) adjoint Higgs model

An adjoint Higgs field with coupling ${\beta }_H$ is added to the Wilson lattice SU(2) in order to study the interpolation between the pure SU(2) (${\beta }_H=0\mathrm{}$) and pure U(1) (${\beta }_H=\infty$) gauge theories. Monte Carlo simulations support our theoretical expectation that the deconfinement transition of the U(1) theory connects to the O(3) Higgs transition to produce a two-phase structure in the $\beta -{\beta }_H$ plane. Implications for the physics of SU(2) confinement and for the continuum limit of the Georgi-Glashow model are discussed.