Spacetime Symmetry Breaking

Cambridge University Press eBooks, pp. 257–269

Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss relativistic and non-relativistic spacetime symmetries, as well as the results of their spontaneous breakdown. Starting from relativistic boost symmetries, we introduce inverse Higgs constraints showing that their Nambu–Goldsone modes are not independent from those of rotations and translations. We then analyse solids, liquids, and liquid crystals, with various broken translations and rotations, but only translational elementary excitations. We finally introduce the idea of a time crystal and discuss its implementation.

Authors 3

1. Aron J. Beekman
   Affiliation as printed

   Sioux Technologies

2. Louk Rademaker Aachen

   Leiden University · University of Geneva

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Geneva and Leiden University

3. Jasper van Wezel

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Amsterdam