Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking Breaks Time-Reversal Symmetry

Abstract

The ideas related to the arrow of time are discussed briefly. I then focus on the prevalent physical mechanism in the evolution of the universe and developments in particle physics, spontaneous symmetry breaking, and show that it explicitly breaks time-reversal symmetry. For simplicity, I do this in a point mechanics gauge theory with symmetry group O(2). The proof of breakdown of time-reversal symmetry relies on the use of a time step function to express the Lagrangian valid for any time.