Inverse Symmetry Breaking in Multi-Scalar Field Theories

TL;DR

This paper reviews inverse symmetry breaking phenomena in multi-scalar field theories, highlighting differences between relativistic and nonrelativistic cases and discussing thermal effects on phase transitions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of inverse symmetry breaking and symmetry nonrestoration in multi-scalar theories, emphasizing the impact of thermal effects and contrasting relativistic and nonrelativistic scenarios.

Findings

Inverse symmetry breaking can occur at arbitrarily large temperatures in relativistic theories.

Symmetry nonrestoration is suppressed in nonrelativistic theories relevant to condensed matter.

Reentrant phase behavior is observed in nonrelativistic cases.

Abstract

We review how the phenomena of inverse symmetry breaking (and symmetry nonrestoration) may arise in the context of relativistic as well as nonrelativistic multi-scalar field theories. We discuss how the consideration of thermal effects on the couplings produce different transition patterns for both theories. For the relativistic case, these effects allow the appearance of inverse symmetry breaking (and symmetry nonrestoration) at arbitrarily large temperatures. On the other hand, the same phenomena are suppressed in the nonrelativistic case, which is relevant for condensed matter physics. In this case, symmetry nonrestoration does not happen while inverse symmetry is allowed only to be followed by symmetry restoration characterizing a reentrant phase. The aim of this paper is to give more insight concerning the, qualitatively correct, results obtained by using one loop perturbation theory in the evaluation of thermal masses and couplings.