In search of symmetry lost | Nature

ABSTRACT Powerful symmetry principles have guided physicists in their quest for nature's fundamental laws. The successful gauge theory of electroweak interactions postulates a more

extensive symmetry for its equations than are manifest in the world. The discrepancy is ascribed to a pervasive symmetry-breaking field, which fills all space uniformly, rendering the

Universe a sort of exotic superconductor. So far, the evidence for these bold ideas is indirect. But soon the theory will undergo a critical test depending on whether the quanta of this

symmetry-breaking field, the so-called Higgs particles, are produced at the Large Hadron Collider (due to begin operation in 2007). Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a

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1975). Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * The Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts,

USA Frank Wilczek Authors * Frank Wilczek View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The author declares no

competing financial interests. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Wilczek, F. In search of symmetry lost. _Nature_ 433, 239–247 (2005).

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