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Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Quantum Mechanics

Jasper van Wezel·Jeroen van den Brink
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Abstract

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 symmetry broken state in crystals, antiferromagnets and even superconductors. It has the advantage that it automatically brings to the fore the main players in spontaneous symmetry breaking: the symmetry breaking field, the thermodynamic limit, and the global excitations of the thin spectrum.

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Jasper van Wezel, Jeroen van den Brink. 2006-09-21. Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Quantum Mechanics. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2730839

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