Does Schroedinger Eat Goldstone too?

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In summary, the question "Does Schroedinger Eat Goldstone too?" is a play on words that references the famous thought experiment in quantum mechanics known as "Schroedinger's Cat" and the Goldstone theorem in particle physics. It is meant to spark discussion about the relationship between these two concepts and encourage critical thinking about the connections between seemingly unrelated concepts in physics. The question does not have a definitive answer and is used to highlight the paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics and how particles get their mass through the Goldstone theorem. While the question itself may not have practical applications, the discussions it prompts can lead to new insights and ideas in the fields of quantum mechanics and particle physics.
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waterfall
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Note the wave function in the Schroedinger Equation has phase freedom from 0 to 360 degrees.

Imagine the Mexican Hat thing or potential well.
http://www.nature.com/nphys/journal/v7/n1/images/nphys1874-f1.jpg

When a double slit emitter is shut off. The phase is at the center of the hat or well.
When it turns on. The phase chooses a value (akin to falling to the ground state of the hat). This means wave functions are example of spontaneous symmetry breaking. So where is the goldstone boson in QM?

Please give another example in quantum mechanics where the concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking is used. Goldstone Theorem says that whenever a symmetry breaks, goldstone bosons appear. In the wave functions, the phases are the degrees of freedom that breaks from the symmetry.

Also perhaps one can consider a particle as the symmetry or at the center of the hat or well. When it turns to wave, there is a phase degrees of freedom. Has anyone heard of this before, if so, please share papers or references about it. Thanks.
 
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Thank you for your interesting post about the phase freedom in the Schrödinger equation and the concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking in quantum mechanics.

One example in quantum mechanics where spontaneous symmetry breaking is used is in the Higgs mechanism. This is a fundamental concept in the Standard Model of particle physics, which explains the origin of mass in elementary particles. The Higgs mechanism breaks the symmetry between the weak and electromagnetic interactions, resulting in the appearance of the Higgs boson as the Goldstone boson.

Another example is in the theory of superconductivity, where the spontaneous breaking of gauge symmetry leads to the appearance of the Goldstone boson known as the Cooper pair. This boson is responsible for the phenomenon of superconductivity, where certain materials can conduct electricity with zero resistance.

Regarding your question about the relationship between particles and symmetry breaking, there have been several studies on this topic in the field of quantum field theory. One example is the concept of "dynamical symmetry breaking", where the particles themselves are considered as the symmetry, and their interactions lead to the breaking of this symmetry. This has been studied in the context of the electroweak theory and the strong interactions.

I hope this helps answer your question and provides some additional examples of spontaneous symmetry breaking in quantum mechanics. For further reading, I would recommend looking into books or articles on the Higgs mechanism, superconductivity, and dynamical symmetry breaking. Thank you for your contribution to the discussion on quantum mechanics.
 

1. What is the significance of the question "Does Schroedinger Eat Goldstone too?"

The question is a play on words referencing the famous thought experiment in quantum mechanics known as "Schroedinger's Cat" and the Goldstone theorem in particle physics. It is often used to spark discussion about the relationship between quantum mechanics and particle physics.

2. Is there a definitive answer to this question?

No, the question is meant to be thought-provoking and does not have a definite answer. It is meant to encourage critical thinking and discussion about the connections between seemingly unrelated concepts in physics.

3. Can you explain the concept of Schroedinger's Cat and the Goldstone theorem?

Schroedinger's Cat is a thought experiment that illustrates the paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics. It involves a cat in a sealed box with a vial of poison and a radioactive substance. According to quantum mechanics, the cat can be both alive and dead at the same time until the box is opened and the cat's state is observed. The Goldstone theorem, on the other hand, is a theorem in particle physics that explains how particles get their mass. It states that particles with zero mass, known as Goldstone bosons, can emerge from a broken symmetry in a system.

4. How are Schroedinger's Cat and the Goldstone theorem related?

The two concepts are not directly related but are often used together in discussions about the connections between quantum mechanics and particle physics. The question "Does Schroedinger Eat Goldstone too?" is meant to spark discussion about the relationship between the two concepts and how they can be connected in unexpected ways.

5. Are there any practical applications of this question?

While the question itself may not have any practical applications, the discussions and critical thinking it encourages can lead to new insights and ideas in the fields of quantum mechanics and particle physics. It also highlights the importance of exploring connections between seemingly unrelated concepts in scientific research.

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