Two-loop effective potential for a general renormalizable theory and softly broken supersymmetry

Abstract

I compute the two-loop effective potential in the Landau gauge for a general\nrenormalizable field theory in four dimensions. Results are presented for the\n\\bar{MS} renormalization scheme based on dimensional regularization, and for\nthe \\bar{DR} and \\bar{DR}' schemes based on regularization by dimensional\nreduction. The last of these is appropriate for models with softly broken\nsupersymmetry, such as the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. I find the\nparameter redefinition which relates the \\bar{DR} and \\bar{DR}' schemes at\ntwo-loop order. I also discuss the renormalization group invariance of the\ntwo-loop effective potential, and compute the anomalous dimensions for scalars\nand the beta function for the vacuum energy at two-loop order in softly broken\nsupersymmetry. Several illustrative examples and consistency checks are\nincluded.\n