Asymmetric Symmetry Breaking: Unequal Probabilities of Vacuum Selection

Abstract

Spontaneous symmetry breaking is a fundamental notion in modern physics, ranging from high energy to condensed matter. However, the usual spontaneous symmetry breaking only considers the equal probability to select the vacua. In this work, we conceive a model to realize the unequal probability of the symmetry breaking, leading to an unbalanced number of ground states. Specifically, we study the probabilities of a scalar field to roll down from the top of a potential, where the top is only $C^1$ continuous. As the whole system is subject to random perturbations, we find that the probability for the field to roll down to the left or right side depends the square root of the second derivative of the potential at the top. We solve this problem theoretically by using the Fokker-Planck equations in stochastic process and verify our findings numerically. This study may potentially be a new mechanism to explain the origins of asymmetries in the Universe.