Symmetry Breaking in Non-Abelian Gauge Theories

Abstract

According to the Goldstone theorem, any manifestly covariant broken-symmetry theory must exhibit massless particles. However, it is known from previous work that such particles need not appear in a relativistic theory such as radiation-gauge electrodynamics, which lacks manifest covariance. Higgs has shown how the massless Goldstone particles may be eliminated from a theory with broken $U(1)$ symmetry by coupling in the electromagnetic field. The primary purpose of this paper is to discuss the analogous problem for the case of broken non-Abelian gauge symmetries. In particular, a model is exhibited which shows how the number of massless particles in a theory of this type is determined, and the possibility of having a broken non-Abelian gauge symmetry with no massless particles whatever is established. A secondary purpose is to investigate the relationship between the radiation-gauge and Lorentz-gauge formalisms. The Abelian-gauge case is reexamined, in order to show that, contrary to some previous assertions, the Lorentz-gauge formalism, properly handled, is perfectly consistent, and leads to physical conclusions identical with those reached using the radiation gauge.

Keywords

Affiliated Institutions

• Imperial College London GB

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