Gravitational interaction and spontaneous breaking of symmetries

An explicit example of spontaneous symmetry breaking due to gravitational interaction is given. It is shown that, in the framework of quantum field theory in curved space-times, the dragging of inertial frame effects lead to a spontaneous symmetry breaking in the ultrarelativistic regime. This situation is compared with those that arise in other interactions. It is pointed out that spinning-up of relativistic configurations is analogous to cooling-down of systems in solid state physics-especially in magnetism-and in high-energy physics. This analogy may turn out to be significant in the investigation of thermodynamical properties of the gravitational field.This essay was awarded the first prize for 1977 by the Gravity Research Foundation.Supported in part by the NSF contract PHY 76-81102 with the University of Chicago.