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Physical Review Letters

Spontaneously Broken SU(3) Symmetry in a Laser

Yakir Aharonov, James M. Knight

Published Dec 15, 1980• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Constants defining a quantum state can serve as macroscopic parameters specifying the spontaneous breaking of a symmetry. An example is given in which a laser possesses a SU(3) symmetry which is spontaneously broken above threshold. The parameters can be readily observed experimentally.
DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.45.1920

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