Bibliothèque de L'IMIST/CNRST

The concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking plays a fundamental role in contemporary physics. It is essential to descriptions of such phenomena as the presence of degenerate ground states, massless modes, and topological defects. Examples are abundant in condensed matter physics, atomic and particle physics, as well as in astrophysics and cosmology. The book contains comprehensive, instructive reviews of significant aspects of the physics of spontaneous symmetry breaking. The emphasis is on topological defects: their appearance after phase transitions and the consequences of their presence. The most attractive feature of the book is that it embraces phenomena belonging to traditionally distinct branches of physics, such as the low temperature physics, liquid crystals, particle physics and cosmology. Both experimental and theoretical physics are represented. The unity and coherence of the underlying concepts is illustrated by an enormous variety of physical phenomena. As such, the book will interest any professional physicist working in modern physics.