Geometry of classical Higgs fields

Abstract

In gauge theory, Higgs fields are responsible for spontaneous symmetry breaking. In classical gauge theory on a principal bundle P, a symmetry breaking is defined as the reduction of a structure group of this principal bundle to a subgroup H of exact symmetries. This reduction takes place iff there exists a global section of the quotient bundle P/H. It is a classical Higgs field. A metric gravitational field exemplifies such a Higgs field. We summarize the basic facts on the reduction in principal bundles and geometry of Higgs fields. Our goal is the particular covariant differential in the presence of a Higgs field.