The 2-loop MSSM finite temperature effective potential with stop condensation

We calculate the finite temperature 2-loop effective potential in the MSSM with stop condensation, using a three-dimensional effective theory. We find that in a part of the parameter space, a two-stage electroweak phase transition appears possible, The first stage would be the formation of a stop condensate, and the second stage is the transition to the standard electroweak minimum. The two-stage transition could significantly relax the baryon erasure bounds, but the parameter space allowing it (m(H) less than or similar to 100 GeV, m ((t) over bar R) similar to 155-160 GeV) is not very large, We estimate the reliability of our results using renormalization scale and gauge dependence. Finally we discuss some real-time aspects relevant for the viability of the two-stage scenario. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.