(Non-)Aligned gauges and global gauge symmetry breaking

Abstract

The concept of (global) gauge symmetry breaking plays an important role in many areas of physics. Since the corresponding symmetry is a gauge symmetry, its breaking is actually gauge-dependent. Thus, it is possible to design gauges which restore the symmetry as good as possible. Such gauge constructions will be detailed here, illustrated with the use of lattice gauge theory. Their use will be discussed for the cases of the Higgs effect, high-baryon density color superconductors, and BRST symmetry.