Light-Front Quantization and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

TL;DR

This paper explores how spontaneous symmetry breaking and the Higgs mechanism are realized in light-front quantization, revealing a nonlocal Hamiltonian structure that aligns with conventional physics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel nonlocal Hamiltonian formulation for symmetry breaking in light-front quantization, differing from traditional approaches.

Findings

Nonlocal constraint equations are essential in light-front Hamiltonian formulation.

The physical content of symmetry breaking matches conventional methods.

A continuum limit is achieved from discretized light-front theory.

Abstract

The spontaneous symmetry breaking (and Higgs) mechanism in the theory quantized on the light-front ({\it l.f.}), in the {\it discretized formulation}, is discussed. The infinite volume limit is taken to obtain the {\it continuum version}. The hamiltonian formulation is shown to contain a new ingredient in the form of nonlocal {\it constraint eqs.} which lead to a {\it nonlocal l.f. Hamiltonian}. The description of the broken symmetry here has the same physical content as in the conventional formulation though arrived at through a different mechanism.