Can strongly-coupled large N gauge theories break Lorentz invariance?

Abstract

The possibility of Lorentz symmetry breaking (LSB) has attracted considerable attention in recent years, and several effective field theory analyses of such phenomena have been given. It remains an open question, however, whether they can take place in an underlying UV complete theory. Here we consider the question of LSB in large N lattice gauge theories in the strong coupling limit. We apply techniques that have previously been used to correctly predict the formation of chiral symmetry breaking condensates in this limit. Generalizing such methods we find that certain LSB condensates can indeed form. In addition, the interesting possibility arises of condensates that ‘lock’ internal and external symmetries.