Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism for accelerating observers

TL;DR

This paper explores how the Higgs mechanism and electroweak symmetry breaking are perceived by accelerating observers, revealing that high acceleration can restore symmetry and masslessness of particles due to the Unruh effect.

Contribution

It demonstrates that from an accelerating frame, electroweak symmetry can be restored at high accelerations, extending the understanding of symmetry breaking in non-inertial frames.

Findings

Symmetry is restored at acceleration > 4πv in a large N limit.

Massless particles are observed when symmetry is restored.

Symmetry restoration can occur near the Rindler horizon even below the critical acceleration.

Abstract

In this work we consider the spontaneous symmetry breaking of the electroweak $SU(2)_L\times U(1)_Y$ gauge group into $U(1)_{em}$ taken place in the Standard Model of particle physics as seen from the point of view of an accelerating observer. According to the Unruh effect that observer detects the Minkowski vacuum as a thermal bath at a temperature proportional to the proper acceleration $a$. Then we show that (in a certain large $N$ limit) when the acceleration is bigger than the critical value $a_c = 4 \pi v$ (where $v$ is the Higgs vacuum expectation value), the electroweak $SU(2)_L\times U(1)_Y$ gauge symmetry is restored and all elementary particles become massless. In addition, even observers with $a<a_c$, can see this symmetry restoration in the region close to the Rindler horizon.