In the Weinberg-Salam model with vanishing mixing angle ${\theta }_W$=0, the static minimum-energy path is obtained within the general spherically symmetric ansatz, which connects a vacuum to the sphaleron of Klinkhamer and Manton. The physical significance of the path is discussed in connection with a possible baryon-number-violating effect at high temperature.

• Received 20 May 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.38.1937