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Full Description
Spontaneous symmetry breaking lies at the heart of modern physics, shaping our understanding of matter, forces, and even the universe itself. From condensed matter physics to particle physics and cosmology, spontaneous symmetry breaking unifies phenomena that at first seem worlds apart. This graduate-level text offers a comprehensive yet accessible guide to the conceptual theory and practical consequences of spontaneous symmetry breaking. It introduces topics ranging from Noether's theorem, thermodynamic limits, and gauge freedoms to Nambu-Goldstone modes, topological defects, effective field theory, the Mermin-Wagner-Hohenberg-Coleman theorem, and the Anderson-Higgs mechanism within the Standard Model. Packed with exercises, with solutions available online, in-depth projects, and a myth-busting FAQ section addressing common pitfalls, this book equips readers to master both the fundamentals and modern frontiers of spontaneous symmetry breaking, making it an indispensable resource for students, teachers, and researchers.
Contents
Preface; Frequently asked questions; Part I. Basics: 1. Symmetry; 2. Symmetry breaking by example; 3. The Zen of symmetry breaking; 4. Nambu-goldstone modes; 5. Phase transitions; Part II. Concepts: 6. Corrections to the order parameter; 7. Topological defects; 8. Gauge fields; 9. Dynamics of symmetry breaking; Part III. Applications: 10. Effective field theory; 11. Particle physics; 12. Fermionic condensates; 13. Spacetime symmetry breaking; 14. Cosmology; Part IV. Projects: 15. Gauging rulers and protractors; 16. Simulating the BKT transition; 17. Liquid-gas ising criticality; 18. The tower of states from exact diagonalisation; 19. Entanglement entropy of symmetry breaking; 20. Dynamical symmetry breaking; 21. Scattering amplitudes; 22. A superposition of symmetry-broken states; Appendices: Appendix A other aspects of spontaneous symmetry breaking; Appendix B further reading; References; Index.
