Breaking of scaling symmetry by massless scalar on de Sitter

Abstract

We study the response of a classical massless minimally coupled scalar to a static point scalar charge on de Sitter. By considering explicit solutions of the problem we conclude that -- even though the dynamics formally admits dilatation (scaling) symmetry -- the physical scalar field profile necessarily breaks the symmetry. This is an instance of symmetry breaking in classical physics due to large infrared effects. The gravitational backreaction, on the other hand, does respect dilatation symmetry, making this an example of symmetry non-inheritance phenomenon.