Spontaneous Magnetization in Lorentz Invariant Theories

TL;DR

This paper investigates how heavy fermions in certain gauge theories can induce spontaneous magnetization, breaking Lorentz invariance, while light fermion masses can restore it, revealing a dynamic interplay affecting fundamental symmetries.

Contribution

It demonstrates that heavy chiral fermions can cause spontaneous magnetization in Lorentz invariant theories, a novel mechanism for symmetry breaking in three-dimensional gauge models.

Findings

Heavy fermions induce magnetic field generation.

Light fermion masses tend to restore Lorentz invariance.

Spontaneous magnetization depends on fermion mass spectrum.

Abstract

In a class of three-dimensional Abelian gauge theories with both light and heavy fermions, heavy chiral fermions can trigger dynamical generation of a magnetic field, leading to the spontaneous breaking of the Lorentz invaiance. Finite masses of light fermions tend to restore the Lorentz invariance.