Simple models exhibiting spontaneous symmetry breakdown in classical and non-relativistic quantum mechanics
Rodrigo Muñoz-Vega, Alberto García-Quiroz, Ernesto López-Chávez +1 more
First, the properties of a classical model of spontaneous symmetry breakdown are analyzed. Then, the pros and cons of some pedagogical non-relativistic quantum-mechanical models, also used to illustrate spontaneous symmetry breakdown, are discussed. Finally, a simple quantum-mechanical toy model (a spinor on the line, with a spin-dependent interaction) is presented, that exhibits the spontaneous breaking of an internal symmetry.
arXiv:1111.1213•Nov 4, 2011•0 citations