The Beginnings of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Particle Physics -- Derived From My on the Spot "Intellectual Battlefield Impressions"

TL;DR

This paper reviews the historical development of spontaneous symmetry breaking in particle physics during the 1960s, highlighting key contributions and personal insights into the field's evolution.

Contribution

It provides a personal historical perspective on the emergence of spontaneous symmetry breaking and clarifies the relationships among foundational papers from the 1960s.

Findings

Clarifies the development of spontaneous symmetry breaking

Highlights the contributions of Guralnik, Hagen, Kibble, Brout, Englert, and Higgs

Provides personal anecdotes and historical context

Abstract

I summarize the development of the ideas of Spontaneous symmetry breaking in the 1960s with an outline of the Guralnik, Hagen, Kibble (GHK) paper and include comments on the relationship of this paper to those of Brout, Englert and Higgs. I include some pictures from my "physics family album which might be of some amusement value".