Effective Field Theory for Finite Systems with Spontaneously Broken Symmetry

TL;DR

This paper develops an effective field theory framework tailored for finite quantum systems exhibiting spontaneous symmetry breaking, such as nuclei and molecules, to better understand their low-energy excitations and spectra.

Contribution

It extends effective field theory to finite systems with spontaneous symmetry breaking, accounting for unique features like pairing effects in deformed nuclei.

Findings

Symmetry relates spectra across different particle numbers in finite superfluids.

Universal features of low-lying excitations as vibrations in non-spherical systems.

Differences in excitation spectra due to pairing in deformed nuclei.

Abstract

We extend effective field theory to the case of spontaneous symmetry breaking in genuinely finite quantum systems such as small superfluid systems, molecules or atomic nuclei, and focus on deformed nuclei. In finite superfluids, symmetry arguments alone relate the spectra of systems with different particle numbers. For systems with non-spherical intrinsic ground states such as atomic nuclei or molecules, symmetry arguments alone yield the universal features of the low-lying excitations as vibrations that are the heads of rotational bands. The low-lying excitations in deformed nuclei differ from those in molecules because of symmetry properties caused by pairing.