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Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Setting Limits on Supersymmetry Using Simplified Models
Published on: November 15, 2013
Exceptional points preceding and enabling spontaneous symmetry breaking.
Lewis Hill1, Julius T Gohsrich1,2, Alekhya Ghosh1,2
1Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
Spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) and exceptional points (EPs) in nonlinear optics do not always coincide. These phenomena are dislocated in parameter space but remain interdependent, challenging common assumptions.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear optics
- Theoretical physics
- Quantum mechanics
Background:
- Spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) is fundamental across physics.
- Exceptional points (EPs) are points of degeneracy in system properties.
- SSB and EPs are often assumed to occur together.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the relationship between SSB and EPs in nonlinear optics.
- Examine three distinct real-world optical systems.
- Determine if SSB and EPs always coincide.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of nonlinear optical systems.
- Theoretical investigation of parameter space.
- Comparison across disparate physical platforms.
Main Results:
- SSB and EPs do not coincide in the studied optical systems.
- These phenomena occur at dislocated points in parameter space.
- Despite dislocation, SSB and EPs are interdependent.
Conclusions:
- The decoupling of SSB and EPs is not unique to these optical systems.
- This suggests a more general principle in physics.
- Reconsideration of the assumed interdependence of SSB and EPs is needed.
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