How do you approach the concept of symmetry breaking in your theoretical models?

Sample interview questions: How do you approach the concept of symmetry breaking in your theoretical models?

Sample answer:

In my theoretical models, I approach the concept of symmetry breaking through the following steps:

1. Identification of Relevant Symmetries:

Determine the symmetries present in the underlying Lagrangian or Hamiltonian.
These symmetries can be global (e.g., translational, rotational) or local (e.g., gauge).

2. Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking:

Introduce scalar fields with a potential that exhibits a symmetry-breaking pattern.
The potential is designed such that the ground state spontaneously breaks the original symmetry.
This spontaneous symmetry breaking gives rise to massless Goldstone bosons.

3. Higgs Mechanism:

In gauge theories, introduce the Higgs field which interacts with the gauge bosons.
The Higgs field acquires a non-zero vacuum expectation value (VEV), breaking the gauge symmetry.
This breaking gives mass to the gauge bosons while leaving the photon massless.

4. Order Parameters and Condensates:

Define order parameters that characterize the symmetry-broken phase.
These order parameters can be scalar fields, condensates of particles, or other physical quantities.