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ZENODO
Preprint . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Preprint . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Symmetry Breaking as Boundary Constraint Selection in Quantum Field Theory

Authors: Winfrey, Kyle;

Symmetry Breaking as Boundary Constraint Selection in Quantum Field Theory

Abstract

This provocative theoretical physics paper challenges one of the most mysterious aspects of modern quantum field theory: why does nature seem to "spontaneously" select one vacuum state from countless identical possibilities when fundamental symmetries break? From the Higgs field choosing a direction that gives particles mass, to quarks breaking chiral symmetry in ways that create the building blocks of matter, physicists have long treated these selections as essentially random cosmic coin flips. This framework transforms some of physics' most fundamental questions: Why does the Higgs field point in the direction it does? Why do we observe specific patterns of symmetry breaking across different forces? The answer becomes not "because it randomly happened that way" but "because those were the only configurations compatible with physical reality." The implications ripple beyond pure theory, this perspective could reshape how we approach Beyond Standard Model physics, dimensional reduction in string theory, and even the emergence of physical law itself from deeper geometric principles. It's a vision where symmetry isn't fundamental, but rather an emergent property of constraint compatibility, and its breaking reveals the hidden geometric skeleton underlying all of particle physics.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
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Average
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