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Related papers: Symmetry breaking and defects

200 papers

In these lectures, I describe the formation of defect distributions in first-order phase transitions, then briefly discuss the relevance of defect interactions after a phase transition and the observational signatures of cosmic strings.…

Astrophysics · Physics 2007-05-23 Tanmay Vachaspati

In contrast to ordinary symmetries, supersymmetry interchanges bosons and fermions. Originally proposed as a symmetry of our universe, it still awaits experimental verification. Here we theoretically show that supersymmetry emerges…

Strongly Correlated Electrons · Physics 2014-05-05 Tarun Grover , D. N. Sheng , Ashvin Vishwanath

We provide a pedagogical overview of defect models of structure formation. We first introduce the concept of topological defect, and describe how to classify them. We then show how defects might be produced in phase transitions in the Early…

Astrophysics · Physics 2007-05-23 Joao Magueijo , Robert Brandenberger

Spontaneous symmetry breaking has revolutionized the understanding in numerous fields of modern physics. Here, we theoretically demonstrate the spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking in a cavity quantum electrodynamics system in which…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2018-08-01 Yu-Kun Lu , Pai Peng , Qi-Tao Cao , Da Xu , Jan Wiersig , Qihuang Gong , Yun-Feng Xiao

We introduce the theoretical framework we use to study the bewildering variety of phases in condensed--matter physics. We emphasize the importance of the breaking of symmetries, and develop the idea of an order parameter through several…

Condensed Matter · Physics 2009-09-25 James P. Sethna

We examine the interplay of symmetry and topological order in $2+1$ dimensional topological phases of matter. We present a definition of the \it topological symmetry \rm group, which characterizes the symmetry of the emergent topological…

Strongly Correlated Electrons · Physics 2019-10-16 Maissam Barkeshli , Parsa Bonderson , Meng Cheng , Zhenghan Wang

The description of spontaneous symmetry breaking that underlies the connection between classically ordered objects in the thermodynamic limit and their individual quantum mechanical building blocks is one of the cornerstones of modern…

Other Condensed Matter · Physics 2010-04-29 Jasper van Wezel

In the context of the relationship between physics of cosmological dark matter and symmetry of elementary particles a wide list of dark matter candidates is possible. New symmetries provide stability of different new particles and their…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2017-04-26 M. Yu. Khlopov

We present a clear and mathematically simple procedure explaining spontaneous symmetry breaking in quantum mechanical systems. The procedure is applicable to a wide range of models and can be easily used to explain the existence of a…

Classical Physics · Physics 2010-04-29 Jasper van Wezel , Jeroen van den Brink

Entanglement asymmetry has emerged as a powerful tool for characterizing symmetry breaking in quantum many-body systems. In this Letter, we explore how symmetry is dynamically broken through the lens of entanglement asymmetry in two…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2025-09-26 Hui Yu , Zi-Xiang Li , Shi-Xin Zhang

The concepts of symmetry and its breakdown are investigated in two different terms according to whether the resulting asymmetry is universal or only obtained for a special configuration: we shall illustrate this by considering in the first…

General Physics · Physics 2022-03-23 Luca Fabbri

In condensed matter physics and related areas, topological defects play important roles in phase transitions and critical phenomena. Homotopy theory facilitates the classification of such topological defects. After a pedagogic introduction…

Statistical Mechanics · Physics 2011-03-28 Ralph Kenna

Spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) is a key concept in physics that for decades has played a crucial role in the description of many physical phenomena in a large number of different areas, like particle physics, cosmology, and…

Statistical Mechanics · Physics 2021-08-25 J. Smits , H. T. C. Stoof , P. van der Straten

In this lecture at a school for condensed matter physicists, I begin with basic concepts and tools for investigating phase transitions in quantum field theory. The very different roles of global and gauge symmetries in phase transitions…

Astrophysics · Physics 2007-05-23 Norbert Straumann

Symmetry-breaking phase transitions may leave behind topological defects \cite{Kibble} with a density dependent on the quench rate \cite{Zurek}. We investigate the dynamics of such quenches for the one-dimensional, Landau-Ginzburg case and…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2014-11-17 Pablo Laguna , Wojciech H. Zurek

Symmetry-breaking quantum phase transitions play a key role in several condensed matter, cosmology and nuclear physics theoretical models. Its observation in real systems is often hampered by finite temperatures and limited control of the…

Symmetry-breaking transitions are a well-understood phenomenon of closed quantum systems in quantum optics, condensed matter, and high energy physics. However, symmetry breaking in open systems is less thoroughly understood, in part due to…

We consider a perfectly homogeneous and isotropic universe which undergoes a sudden phase transition. If the transition produces topological defects, which we assume, perturbations in the geometry and the cosmic fluid also suddenly appear.…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2014-11-17 Nathalie Deruelle , David Langlois , Jean-Philippe Uzan

We discuss the structure of topological defects in the context of extra dimensions where the symmetry breaking terms are localized. These defects develop structure in the extra dimension which differs from the case where symmetry breaking…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2009-11-11 R. Holman , Matthew R. Martin

The Standard Model of particle physics and the $\Lambda$CDM model of cosmology provide an incomplete description of our Universe. Both models face challenges, including explaining the nature of dark matter, the origin of the Universe's…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2025-12-24 Giacomo Ferrante