 SU(3) gauge theory with an adjoint Higgs field

A traceless Hermitian $3\times 3$ adjoint scalar field transforms by $\Phi \mapsto U\Phi U^{†}$. A diagonal vacuum with eigenvalues $({\lambda }_1,{\lambda }_2,{\lambda }_3)$, summing to zero, leaves its centralizer unbroken. The adjoint scalar gauge-boson mass matrix assigns mass $g|{\lambda }_i-{\lambda }_j|$ to the vector fields linking the $i$th and $j$th eigenspaces. Coincident eigenvalues preserve non-Abelian rotations of their eigenspace; distinct eigenvalues preserve only a maximal torus.