An introduction to spontaneous symmetry breaking
Perhaps the most important aspect of symmetry in physics is the idea that a state does not need to have the same symmetries as the theory that describes it. This phenomenon is known as spontaneous symmetry breaking. In these lecture notes, starting from a careful definition of symmetry in physics...
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2019-12-01
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| Series: | SciPost Physics Lecture Notes |
| Online Access: | https://scipost.org/SciPostPhysLectNotes.11 |
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doaj-3c511691c0db4af2b7e9dbb30bbbcfd52021-04-19T11:32:52ZengSciPostSciPost Physics Lecture Notes2590-19902019-12-011110.21468/SciPostPhysLectNotes.11An introduction to spontaneous symmetry breakingAron J. Beekman, Louk Rademaker, Jasper van WezelPerhaps the most important aspect of symmetry in physics is the idea that a state does not need to have the same symmetries as the theory that describes it. This phenomenon is known as spontaneous symmetry breaking. In these lecture notes, starting from a careful definition of symmetry in physics, we introduce symmetry breaking and its consequences. Emphasis is placed on the physics of singular limits, showing the reality of symmetry breaking even in small-sized systems. Topics covered include Nambu-Goldstone modes, quantum corrections, phase transitions, topological defects and gauge fields. We provide many examples from both high energy and condensed matter physics. These notes are suitable for graduate students.https://scipost.org/SciPostPhysLectNotes.11 |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Aron J. Beekman, Louk Rademaker, Jasper van Wezel |
| spellingShingle |
Aron J. Beekman, Louk Rademaker, Jasper van Wezel An introduction to spontaneous symmetry breaking SciPost Physics Lecture Notes |
| author_facet |
Aron J. Beekman, Louk Rademaker, Jasper van Wezel |
| author_sort |
Aron J. Beekman, Louk Rademaker, Jasper van Wezel |
| title |
An introduction to spontaneous symmetry breaking |
| title_short |
An introduction to spontaneous symmetry breaking |
| title_full |
An introduction to spontaneous symmetry breaking |
| title_fullStr |
An introduction to spontaneous symmetry breaking |
| title_full_unstemmed |
An introduction to spontaneous symmetry breaking |
| title_sort |
introduction to spontaneous symmetry breaking |
| publisher |
SciPost |
| series |
SciPost Physics Lecture Notes |
| issn |
2590-1990 |
| publishDate |
2019-12-01 |
| description |
Perhaps the most important aspect of symmetry in physics is the idea that a
state does not need to have the same symmetries as the theory that describes
it. This phenomenon is known as spontaneous symmetry breaking. In these lecture
notes, starting from a careful definition of symmetry in physics, we introduce
symmetry breaking and its consequences. Emphasis is placed on the physics of
singular limits, showing the reality of symmetry breaking even in small-sized
systems. Topics covered include Nambu-Goldstone modes, quantum corrections,
phase transitions, topological defects and gauge fields. We provide many
examples from both high energy and condensed matter physics. These notes are
suitable for graduate students. |
| url |
https://scipost.org/SciPostPhysLectNotes.11 |
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