Approximate ground state in a model with spontaneous symmetry breakdown

The spontaneous symmetry breakdown is treated by means of a variational approach. Use is made of coherent states of Glauber and of pairing states of BCS-type as the translationally invariant vacuum states for the discussion of the real scalar field ⁴ withm ₀ ² 0. The first type of trial states reproduces the usual approach to spontaneous symmetry breakdown (-) in the tree approximation (which is possible only form ₀ ² <0), while the second type of trial states offers the possibility of spontaneous symmetry breakdown even form ₀ ² =0.