Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2025/iii/paper-303/3/c/ii/solution

Let , , and . With every , the uniform potential is
For , the minimum is the origin and is unbroken. If , then and ; the factor is broken, remains, and there is no Goldstone mode. If , then and ; the first remains while is broken to the reflection fixing the chosen direction, producing one Goldstone mode.
The positive coordinate half-axes are continuous transition lines. For , the potential has an enhanced symmetry and a sphere of minima; gives two Goldstone modes on this line. Crossing the negative diagonal exchanges the two ordered phases and gives a first-order line at mean-field level.

New to topics? Read the docs here!