Diffusion and decoherence of squarks and quarks during the electroweak phase transition

To estimate the diffusion constant D of particles in a plasma, we develop a method that is based on the mean free path lambda for scatterings with momentum transfer q greater than or similar to T. Using this method, we estimate lambda and D for squarks and quarks during the electroweak phase transition. Assuming that Debye and magnetic screening lengths provide suitable infrared cutoffs, our calculations yield lambda less than or similar to 18/T and D less than or similar to 5/T for both squarks and quarks. Our estimate of lambda suggests that suppressions of charge transport due to decoherence of these strongly interacting particles during the electroweak phase transition are not severe and that these particles may contribute significantly to electroweak baryogenesis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.