The electroweak phase transition: a non-perturbative lattice investigation

We present results obtained from a numerical investigation of the electroweak phase transition in the SU(2)-Higgs model. The simulations are performed at two values of the Higgs boson mass, $M_H\approx 20$ GeV and $M_H\approx 50$ GeV. While the phase transition is of strongly first order at the smaller value of the Higgs mass it weakens rapidly when the Higgs mass is increased. This is in qualitative agreement with perturbation theory as the comparison of various physical quantities shows.