Origin of gauge bosons from strong quantum correlations

Area of Science:

• Theoretical Physics
• Quantum Field Theory
• Condensed Matter Physics

Background:

• The fundamental nature of light, a massless U(1) gauge boson, remains an unresolved mystery in physics.
• Existing theories often involve symmetry breaking or fine-tuning to explain the existence of light.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel origin for light from quantum orders within the vacuum.
• To demonstrate that light can emerge without violating fundamental symmetries or requiring precise parameter tuning.

Main Methods:

• Construction of quantum spin models on a lattice.
• Analysis of emergent phenomena in strongly correlated quantum systems.
• Investigation of quantum coherence as a mechanism for generating gauge fluctuations.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated that specific quantum orders can naturally generate massless gauge fluctuations (light).
• Showcased the emergence of light without any symmetry breaking or fine-tuning.
• Identified quantum coherence in many-body systems as a potential source of light.

Conclusions:

• Light's existence can be explained as a collective phenomenon of quantum coherence in the vacuum.
• Massless gauge fluctuations arise commonly and naturally in strongly correlated quantum systems.
• This provides a new perspective on the origin of fundamental forces and particles.