Unified field Theory, Symmetry breaking and the Emergence of Order

In this paper, the author presents a conceptual model of a unified field theory that is based on group symmetry characteristics of matter -- i.e., on the 'charge' conserving and gaugeinvariant properties of elementary particles and fields. In such a model, it will be shown that emergence of order and structure in physical, chemical and biological systems inevitably arises through a series of bipolar symmetry breaking phase transitions in an expanding universe.

The basic foundation of the proposed model is derived from recent developments in quantum field theory, e.g., super-symmetry group models, where the existence of higher quantum spin states and greater degrees of freedom in the space-time manifold is posulated. In the proposed unified field model, the origin of the physical universe is considered an 'ergodic' phenomenon, i.e., a probabistically rare, but temporally-finite event. The cosmic 'big bang' is thus seen as arising from a thennodynamically unstable state of primordial matter in an extremely low entropic state in a localized region of the background vacuum (governed by a scalar potential), that led to a hyper-inflationary expansion of the emergent physical universe, as recently described by A. Linde.

While the overall entropy of the physical universe increased againstt he initial localized 'singularity' of the background vacuum, other localized low entropy states, with relatively stable structure and order, evolved through a nested hierarchy of symmetry breaking transitions. In addition, the stability of matter is maintained by the formation of gaugeinvariant local symmetries -- i.e., through the 'partial' restoration of local symmetry fields in a globally symmetric field. It is postulated that through such symmetry breaking and restoring processes, the emergence of 'proto-galaxies'( containing dark matter) and the presently observable galaxies, stellar bodies and planetary objects have arisen. Similarly, it is proposed that chemical and biological evolution at the terrestrial level have proceeded through an analogous series of symmetry breaking and restoring processes, with increasing degrees of complexities and emergent order.

In the paper, a number of novel concepts are discussed that are based on the principles of an axiomatic symmetry field theory. These include:

. the concepts of resting mass or inertia, which are viewed as the measure of relative resistance encountered by locally asymmetric fields when they are spatially displaced with respect to a globally symmetric field. Such a dynamical concept of mass appears to be consistent with the conceptual foundations of Mach's principle,

. the underlying nature of the characteristic wave velocities of each globally symmetric field. In the proposed model, for example, it is postulated that gravitational field waves travel at propagation velocities greatly in excess of electromagnetic field transmissions. Such a conclusion appears to extend, but not contradict the principles of special relativity,

. the existence of dark matter particles and fields, that exert weakly-coupled, but extremely long-ranged field effects that are not gravitational in origin. In such a scenario, it is postulated that all regions of the universe are causally linked by a finite dark matter field force that appear to be almost instantaneous,

. the possible existence of parallel or muhiple universes that grew out of a series of thermodynamically unstable and low entropic regions of the primordial vacuum state of a 'super-universe'.

. the emergent order and structure of more complex chemical and biological systems, that are consistent with, but not reductible to the symmetry breaking and restoring processes of physical systems.