1. Goldstone model (relativistic, n
NGB= dim G H)
J. Goldstone, Nuovo Cimento 19, 154 (1961)
Lagrangian
L = ¶Μj*¶Μj - VHj*jL
= ¶Μj*¶Μj + m2j*j -g
2Hj
*jL2.
- G = UH1L: j' HxL = ãä Q ΕjHxL ã-ä Q Ε= jHxL ãä Ε.
Potential minimum
V 'Hj*jL = gHj*jL - m2= 0 ® v2=m2
g.
- For example, we can set Xj\ = v Î R.
- H =8e<: U(1) symmetry is completely broken. X@ä Q, jHxLD\ = X∆ j\ = ä v ¹ 0.
- dimHGL - dimHHL = 1 - 0 = 1.
Fluctuation around the minimum Substitute j = v +Σ+ä Π
2 and expand L in the series of Σ, Π: L = 12I¶ΜΣ ¶ΜΣ + ¶ΜΠ ¶ΜΠM + m2Jv2+ 2 v Σ +Σ2+Π2
2 N - g 2Jv
2+ 2 v Σ +Σ2+Π2
2 N
2
= 1
2¶ΜΠ ¶ ΜΠ+ 1
2I¶ΜΣ ¶
ΜΣ - 2 m2Σ2M+m4 2 g-
g v 2 IΣ
3+ Σ Π2M -g 8 IΣ
2+ Π2M2
- No mass term for the Goldstone mode Π. The linear dispersion Ω = c k.
- The detailed form of the Lagrangian depends on the parametrization. We could choose, e.g., j =Hv + ΣL ãä Π. - This example: OH2L ® OH1L
® Can be generalized to OHnL ® OHn - 1L. dimHGL - dimHHL = nHn-1L2 -Hn-1L Hn-2L
2 = n - 1.
2. U(2)/U(1) model (nonrelativistic, n
NGB< dim G H when Μ ¹ 0)
T. Schäfer, D.T. Son, M.A. Stephanov, D. Toublan, J.J.M. Verbaarschot, Phys. Lett. B 522, 67 (2001) V. A. Miransky, I. A. Shovkovy, PRL 88 111601 (2002)
Lagrangian j =Kj1
j2O: two-component bosonic field.
L
¹ 0
H2L H L
Σ
Printed by Mathematica for Students
K 2O
L =H¶Ν+ä ∆Ν 0ΜL j*H¶Ν-ä ∆Ν 0ΜLj - VHj*jL
=H¶Ν+ä ∆Ν 0ΜL j*H¶Ν-ä ∆Ν 0ΜL j + m2j*j -g
2Hj
*jL2.
- U(1) chemical potential A0= Μ ¹ 0
(i) explicitely breaks the Lorentz symmetry, (ii) reduces O(4) symmetry down to U(2). (iii) breaks the charge conjugation. - G = UH2L: j' HxL = ãä QiΕijHxL ã-ä QiΕi= ãä Εi Σ2ijHxL.
Σ0: unit matrix Σ1,2,3: Pauli matrices
Potential minimum
V 'Hj*jL = gHj*jL - Im2+ Μ2M = 0 ® v2=m
2+Μ2
g .
- For example, we can set Xj\ = 0
v , v Î R. - H = UH1L generated by Q0+ Q3.
X@ä Q0, jHxLD\ = äΣ20 0v = ä 12 0v , X@ä Q1, jHxLD\ = äΣ21 0v = ä 12 v0 , X@ä Q2, jHxLD\ = äΣ22 0v = ä 12 -ä v0 , X@ä Q3, jHxLD\ = äΣ3
2
0 v = ä
1 2
0 -v . - dimHGL - dimHHL = 4 - 1 = 3.
- Even when Μ = 0: G = OH4L, H = OH3L, dimHGL - dimHHL = 6 - 3 = 3.
Fluctuation around the minimum
Substitute j =
Π1+ä Π2 2
v +Σ+ä Π3
2
and expand L in the series of Σ, Πa:
L =12I¶ΜΣ ¶ΜΣ + ¶ΜΠa¶ΜΠaM + Im2+ Μ2M Jv2+ 2 v Σ +Σ2+Π2aΠaN - g2Jv2+ 2 v Σ +Σ2+Π2aΠaN2
=1
2 ¶ΜΠ
a¶ΜΠa+ ΜHΠ 1Π
2- Π2Π
1L + ΜHΣ Π 3- Π3Σ L +
1 2A¶ΜΣ ¶
ΜΣ - 2Im2+ Μ2M Σ2E + Im2+Μ2M
2
2 g -
g v 2 IΣ
3+ Σ ΠaΠaM -g 8IΣ
2+ ΠaΠaM2
>A12 ¶ΜΠ1¶ΜΠ1+ 1 2¶ΜΠ
2¶ΜΠ2+ ΜHΠ 1Π
2- Π2Π
1LE + B12¶ΜΠ3¶ΜΠ3+ Μ2 m2+Μ2Π
32F - Im2+ Μ2M JΣ -m2Μ+Μ2Π
3N2+ … - Completing square for massive modes ® “integrating out” at the tree level.
- Π3 gives a mode with the dispersion J1 + Μ
2
m2+Μ2N Ω
2- k2= 0.
- Π1,2 together give a single gapless mode. EOM: det Ω
2- k2 2 ä Μ Ω
-2 ä Μ Ω Ω2- k2 = 0 [solve this together?]
Ω2= k2+ 2 Μ2± 2 Μ4+ k2Μ2 =Jk2
2 ΜN 2
+ OIk6M, 4 Μ2+ 2 k2+ OIk4M - In total, only two Goldstone modes appear.
nNGB= 2 < dimHGHL = 3
] ]
= 0
= k ]
Printed by Mathematica for Students
nNGB= 2 < dimHGHL = 3
In this example, the total number of mode agrees with the expected number.
- Nonzero (Noether) charge density: ji0=H¶0+ä ΜL j*äΣi
2 j + c.c.
Yj00] =-Μ v2, Yj10] = 0, Yj20] = 0, Yj30] = Μ v2.
- When Μ = 0, L =A1
2¶ΜΠ
1¶ΜΠ1+ 1 2¶ΜΠ
2¶ΜΠ2+ ΜHΠ
1Π 2- Π2Π 1LE + B21¶ΜΠ3¶ΜΠ3+ Μ
2
m2+Μ2Π
32F - Im2+ Μ2M JΣ -m2Μ+Μ2Π
3N2+ … each Πa=1,2,3 corresponds to a linear mode with Ω = k. No charge densities Yji0] = 0.
- Set Ω = k2
2 Μ:
Ω2- k2 2 ä Μ Ω -2 ä Μ Ω Ω2- k2 µ
-1 ä -ä -1 . Eigenvector: 1
-ä ¬ “circular polarization”
Þ ja=10= Φ, ja=20= -ä Φ. So, Q1- ä Q2 does not couple to any zero mode but this is not a contradiction. (cf. S+ 0\ = 0 for ferromagnet)
Normalization of the field...
We can change parametrization j =
Π1+ä Π2 2
v +Σ+ä Π3
2
® j =Hv + ΣL ãä
Σa 2 Π
a
L =Bv2
4 ¶ΜΠ
1¶ΜΠ1+v2 4 ¶ΜΠ
2¶ΜΠ2+ Μ v2 2 HΠ2Π
1- Π1Π 2LF + B v2
4 ¶ΜΠ
3¶ΜΠ3+v2 2
Μ2 m2+Μ2Π
32F
3. Ferromagnet (nonrelativistic, n
NGB< dimHG H L)
Heisenberg Hamiltonian H = -JÚXi,j\si× sj (J > 0)
G = SOH3L leaves H and Asix, sjyE = i ∆i jsiz intact.
c.f. Li= S cosΘiΦ
i+ J si× si+1.
HΘ, ΦL: sphererical coordinate of S = S n. HcosΘ - 1L Φ = nyn 1+nx-nzxn y: the Berry phase term
® very complicated but still SU(2) invariant up to a surface term.
Printed by Mathematica for Students
nx=Sin@Θ@tDDCos@Φ@tDD; ny=Sin@Θ@tDDSin@Φ@tDD; nz=Cos@Θ@tDD;
FullSimplifyB-
nx D@ny, tD -ny D@nx, tD 1+nz
-HCos@Θ@tDD -1LD@Φ@tD, tDF 0
Ground state configuration S =Úisi
Szi GS\ = S GS\
X@ä Sx, siyD\ = -Xsiz\ = -S ¹ 0. X@ä Sy, sixD\ = Xsiz\ = S ¹ 0. - H = SOH2L generated by Sz. - Spin (charge) density Xsiz\ = S.
- S+ 0\ = ISx+ ä SyM 0\ = 0 Þ Sx 0\ = -ä Sy 0\.
Excitation (Holstein-Primakov transformation with the large S approximation) siz= S - n`i
si+= 2 S - n`i b`i» 2 S b`i
si-= b`i¾ 2 S - n`i » b`i¾ 2 S
H S =
-J S ÚXi,j\J
s-isj++sj-s+i
2 + si
zsz jN
= -JÚXi,j\Ib`i¾ b`j+ b`j¾ b`i- 2 b`i¾ b`iM + OJ b3
SN
= 2 JÚkÚΑ@1 - cosHkΑaLD b`k¾ b`k+ OJbS3N
Only one NGB with a quadratic dispersion Ω =IJ S a2M k2.
Excitation (effective Lagrangian) L =ÚiS cosΘiΦ i+ JÚXi,j\si× sj
=Úiad S
ad
nyn x-nxn y
1+nz -ÚXi,j\a
d J
2 adBIsi- sjM
2- 2 SHS + 1LF
»Ù ddxBS
ad
nyn x-nxn y 1+nz -
J a2
2 ad¶Αs × ¶ΑsF
L » 1
2 S ad AHΠ
yΠ x - ΠxΠ yL - J S a2¶
xΠa¶xΠaE ¬ s = S -Πy
Πx 1 EOM: det -J S a
2k2 ä Ω
- ä Ω - J S a2k2 = 0 [solve this together?] Ω = J S a2k2.
4. Antiferromagnet (nonrelativistic, n
NGB= dimHG H L)
Heisenberg Hamiltonian (for simplicity, d=1.) Hi=+J si× si+1 (J > 0).
G = SOH3L leaves H and Asix, sjyE = i ∆i jsiz intact. Li= S cosΘiΦ i- J si× si+1.
Holstein-Primakov transformation with the large S approximation s2 iz= S - n`2 i
s2 i+= 2 S - n`2 i b`2 i» 2 S b`2 i
s2 i-= b`i¾ 2 S - n`2 i » 2 S b`2 i¾ and
s2 i+1z= n`2 i+1- S
s2 i+1+= b`2 i+1¾ 2 S - n`2 i+1 » 2 S b`2 i+1¾ s2 i+1-= 2 S - n`2 i+1 b2 i+1» 2 S b`2 i+1
Then,
H S =
J SÚiJ
s2 i+1-s2 i++s2 i-s2 i+1+
2 + s2 i
zs
2 i+1zN +JSÚiJs2 i-s2 i-1++s22 i-1-s2 i+ + s2 izs2 i-1zN
> J ÚiIb`2 i+1b`2 i+ b`2 i¾ b`2 i+1¾ + n`2 i+1+ n`2 iM + J ÚiIb`2 i¾ b`2 i-1¾ + b`2 i-1b`2 i+ n`2 i-1+ n`2 iM
= J ÚiIb`i+1b`i+ b
`
i¾ b`i+1¾ + 2 n`iM
= J Ú-Π
a£k £ Π a
AcosHk aL b`-kb`k+ cosHk aL b`-k¾ b`k¾ + bk¾ bk+ b-k¾ b-kE
= 2 J Ú0£k £Π a
H bk¾ b-kL cos1Hk aL cos1Hk aL bbk
-k¾
= 2 J Ú0£k £Π
aH Β
k¾ Β-kL
cosh Θ sinh Θ sinh Θ cosh Θ
1 cosHk aL cosHk aL 1
cosh Θ sinh Θ sinh Θ cosh Θ
Βk
Β-k¾
= 2 J Ú0£k £Π
aH Β
k¾ Β-kL
1 - cos2Hk aL 0 0 1 - cos2Hk aL
Βk
Β-k¾
¬ tanhH2 ΘL = -cosHk aL
= 2 J Ú-Π
2 a£k £ Π 2 a
1 - cos2Hk aL JΒk¾ Βk+ ΒΠ
a+k
¾ ΒΠ
a+kN
Two NGBs with the linear dispersion Ω =H2 J S aL k.
Excitation (effective Lagrangian)
Printed by Mathematica for Students
∆IÙ d t cosΘ Φ M
=Ù d t IcosΘ ∆ Φ - sinΘ ∆Θ Φ M
=Ù d t IsinΘ ∆Φ Θ - sinΘ ∆Θ Φ M
=Ù d t IsinΘ ∆Φ Θ - sinΘ ∆Θ Φ M
=Ù d t ∆n×n´n ni=H-1Lini
L = SÚicosΘiΦ i- J S2Úini× ni+1
= SÚiH-1Licos ΘiΦ
i+ J S2Úin
i× n
i+1
= S
2ÚiH-1L
i+1Jcos Θ
i+1Φ i+1- cos ΘiΦ iN -1
2J S 2Ú
iHni+1- niL2
®S
2 ÚiH-1L i+1Hn
i+1- niL×ni´ n i-1
2J S 2Ú
iHni+1- niL2
= S
2ÚiH-1L i+1Hn
i+1- niL×ni´ n i- 1
2J S 2Ú
iHni+1- niL2 We introduce slowly varying fields n and s by ni= nHxiL + H-1LisHxiL
L > 12S ¶xn × n ´ n +S
as × n ´ n
- 1
2 a J S
2A4 s2+Ha ¶ xnL2E
= 1
2S ¶xn × n ´ n
-2 J S2
a Js - n´n 4 J SN
2
+ 2 J S2
a J
n´n 4 J SN
2
- 1
2 aJ S 2Ha ¶
xnL2
> 8 a J1 An 2- H2 J S aL2H¶xnL2E+ S
2¶xn × n ´ n
- 2 J S2
a Js - n´n 4 J SN
2
- Topological term 2 Π S W@nD = 2 Π S Ùd x d t4 Π ¶xn × n ´ n is particular to 1D. - Do the same for “ferri”magnet. e.g, SA¹ SB.
5. BEC (nonrelativistic, n
NGB= dimHG HL)
Lagrangian
L = i Ψ¾ Ψ - 1
2 mÑ Ψ¾ × Ñ Ψ + Μ Ψ¾ Ψ -g
2HΨ¾ ΨL 2
- G = UH1L: Ψ' HxL = ãä Q ΕΨHxL ã-ä Q Ε= ΨHxL ãä Ε.
Potential minimum
V 'HΨ*ΨL = gHΨ*ΨL - Μ = 0 ® XΨ*Ψ\ = n0= Μ
g.
- H =8e<: U(1) symmetry is completely broken. X@ä Q, ΨHxLD\ = X∆ Ψ\ = ä n0 ¹ 0. - dimHGL - dimHHL = 1 - 0 = 1.
Fluctuation around the minimum Substitute Ψ = n ã-ä Π:
L = n Π - nÑΠ×ÑΠ
2 m - Μ
2 n0Hn - n0L 2+ Μ
2 n0n0
2-Ñn×Ñn 8 m n
> n Π - n0 ÑΠ×ÑΠ
2 m - Μ
2 n0Jn - n0- n0 Π Μ
N2-Hn - n0L Π + 2 nΜ
0
Π 2-Ñn×Ñn
8 m n
= n0
2 ΜIΠ
2
- Μ
m Ñ Π × Ñ ΠM- Μ
2 n0Jn - n0- n0 Π Μ
N2-Ñn×Ñn8 m n +n0Π
- The Goldstone mode Π has the linear dispersion Ω2= Μk2.
- No dynamics for n. No amplitude mode. - If integrate out “Π” first,
Ln=1
2 ∆ n
*Jm Ω2 n0k2-
Μ n0-
k2 4 m n0N ∆ n
® X∆ n ∆ n\ = n0 1
m Ω2 k2 -Μ-
k2 4 m
Power-law decaying XnHx, tL nHy, tL\ » x-y¤1d+1¬ gapless contribution of Goldstone mode.
6. Spinor BEC (nonrelativistic, n
NGB< dimHG H L)
T. L. Ho, PRL 81, 742, (1998)
T. Ohmi, and K. Machida, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 67, 1822 (1998)
Lagrangian
L = i Ψ¾ Ψ - 1
2 mÑ Ψ¾ × Ñ Ψ + Μ Ψ¾ Ψ -g
2HΨ¾ ΨL 2+ J
2HΨ¾ TaΨL 2
- UH1L´SOH3L T1=
0 0 0 0 0 -ä 0 ä 0
, T2=
0 0 ä 0 0 0 -ä 0 0
, T3=
0 -ä 0 ä 0 0
0 0 0
.
Potential minimum for g>J>0
T3XΨ\ = H+1L XΨ\, ¬ ferromagnetic XΨ\ = n0
1 2
1 ä 0
, n0= Μ g-J
HT3- T0L XΨ\ = 0 ® Q3- Q0: unbroken. - dimHGL - dimHHL = 4 - 1 = 3.
Fluctuation around the minimum
Substitute, e.g., Ψ = n ãä T1Π1+ä T2Π2+ä Π3 1
2
1 ä 0
:
Up to total derivatives,
L =An20IΠ2Π 1 - Π1Π 2M - n0
4 mIÑΠ
1× Ñ Π1+ Ñ Π2× Ñ Π2ME + B-n Π 3- n0
m Ñ Π
3× Ñ Π3- Μ
2 n0Hn - n0L 2- Ñn×Ñn
8 m n0F
- Only two NGBs: one linear Ω = mΜ k and one quadratic Ω = k2
2 m.
- Spin (charge) density Xs3\ = XΨ¾ T3Ψ\ = n0.
Printed by Mathematica for Students
T0=881, 0, 0<,80, 1, 0<,80, 0, 1<<; T1=880, 0, 0<,80, 0,- ä<,80,ä, 0<<; T2=880, 0,ä<,80, 0, 0<,8-ä, 0, 0<<; T3=880,- ä, 0<,8ä, 0, 0<,80, 0, 0<<; Ψ =SeriesB
1 2
n0+ Εn@tD MatrixExp@Ε HäT1Π1@tD + äT2Π2@tD + äT0Π3@tDLD.81,ä, 0<,8Ε, 0, 2<F; Ψd=SeriesB
1 2
n0+ Εn@tD 81,- ä, 0<.MatrixExp@-Ε HäT1Π1@tD + äT2Π2@tD + äT0Π3@tDLD, 8Ε, 0, 2<F;
HT3-T0L.HΨ .Ε ®0L; Simplify@Ψd.ΨD
Simplify@Series@D@Ψd, tD.D@Ψ, tD,8Ε, 0, 2<DD SimplifyBSeriesB
ä Ψd.D@Ψ, tD - äD@Ψd, tD.Ψ 2
,8Ε, 0, 2<FF
n0+n@tD Ε +O@ΕD3 1
4 n0I
n¢@tD2+2 n02IΠ1¢@tD2+ Π2¢@tD2+2Π3¢@tD2MM Ε2+O@ΕD3 -n0Π3¢@tD Ε +
1 2 H
n0Π2@tD Π1¢@tD -n0Π1@tD Π2¢@tD -2 n@tD Π3¢@tDL Ε2+O@ΕD3
7. Charged crystals under magnetic field in 2+1 D
(nonrelativistic, n
NGB< dimHG H L when B ¹ 0)
L =ÚiA1
2m x
i2+ 1
2q BHxiy
i- yix
iLE - Úi< jVIxi- xjM
® Leff= 1
2 a2m u
2
+ 1
2J- q B
a2N Hu
yu x- uxu yL - EH¶ iuL where we introduced xiHtL = xi 0+ uHxi, tL.
- only one phonon mode when q B ¹ 0.
- no charge density but nonzero commutation relation 1
V@PB x, P
ByD = -ä q B
a2 (central extension). Here, PBx=ÚiIpx,i- 1
2q B yiM, PB y=Ú
iIpy,i+ 1
2q B xiM is the magnetic momentum. This is consistent with the empirical fact that any U(1) charges do not change nNGB. - Debye’s Td law Þ modified to Tdz
8. Free bosons (nonrelativistic, n
NGB< dimHG HL)
L = ä Ψ¾ ¶tΨ - 1
2 mÑ Ψ¾ Ñ Ψ,
Free bosons can be seen NGB (Ω = k2
2 m) of shift symmetries: Q1: Ψ ® Ψ + Ε1,
Q2: Ψ ® Ψ + ä Ε2,
which prohibit the mass term µ Ψ¾Ψ. - dimHGHL = 2, but only one NGB. - 1
V@Q1, Q2D = ä 2 ¬ Q1=Ù d
dx äHΨ¾ - ΨL, Q2= -Ù ddxHΨ + Ψ¾L - L =1
22HΠ2Π
1- Π1Π
2L - ÑΠ1ÑΠ12 m+ÑΠ2ÑΠ2
Summary of examples
1. Goldstone model, 5. nonrelativistic BEC UH1L ® 8e<; dimHGHL = 1.
Leff=1
2¶ΜΠ ¶
ΜΠ + …. , L eff= n0
2 ΜIΠ
2
- Μ
m Ñ Π × Ñ ΠM. 1
V X@Qa, QbD\ = 0.
2. U(2)/U(1) model, 6. Spinor BEC Μ =0
OH4L ® OH3L; dimHGHL = 3. Leff=v2
4 ¶ΜΠ
1¶ΜΠ1+ v2 4 ¶ΜΠ
2¶ΜΠ2+ v2 4 ¶ΜΠ
3¶ΜΠ3+ …. 1
V X@Qa, QbD\ = 0.
nNGB- dimHGHL = 0. Μ ¹0
UH2L ® UH1L. Leff=Bv2
4 ¶ΜΠ
1¶ΜΠ1+v2 4 ¶ΜΠ
2¶ΜΠ2+ Μ v2 2 HΠ2Π
1- Π1Π
2LF + Bv42 mm22+3 Μ+Μ22 Π
3Π
3- v2 4 Ñ Π
3× Ñ Π3F + …. 1
V X@Q1, Q2D\ = Μ v 2
(nonzero Μ explicitely breaks the charge conjugation and nonzero charge density is allowed.) nNGB- dimHGHL =1.
Spinor BEC
UH1L´SOH3L´ T® UH1L ¬ time-reversal is spontaneously broken Leff=An0
2 IΠ 2Π 1
- Π1Π 2M- n0
4 mIÑΠ
1× Ñ Π1+ Ñ Π2× Ñ Π2ME + n0
2 ΜBΠ
3
Π 3-2 Μ
m Ñ Π
3× Ñ Π3F + …. 1
V X@S1, S2D\ = ä n0.
nNGB- dimHGHL =1.
3. Ferromagnet, 4. Antiferromagnet Ferromagnet: XSz\
V ¹ 0
SOH3L´ T® SOH2L.
] S L =1
Antiferromagnet
L T
L E E]
L = 0
Printed by Mathematica for Students
SOH3L´ T® SOH2L. Leff= S
ad
nyn x-nxn y 1+nz -
J a2
2 ad¶Αs × ¶Αs
= 1
2 S ad AHΠ
yΠ x - ΠxΠ yL- J S a2¶
xΠa¶xΠaE + … .
1
V YASx, SyE] = S ad.
nNGB- dimHGHL =1.
Antiferromagnet: XSVz\= 0 ¬ unbroken time-reversal symmetry SOH3L´ T® SOH2L´ T.
Leff= 1
8 a JAn
2
- H2 J S aL2H¶xnL2E.
1
V YASx, SyE] = 0.
nNGB- dimHGHL = 0.
7. Charged crystals under B, 8 Free bosons
Charged crsytals:
R2® Z2 ¬ time-reversal symmetry is explicitely broken by the applied B Leff= 1
2 a2 m u
2
+ 1
2J- q B
a2NHu
yu x- uxu yL- EH¶ iuL
1 V@PB
x, P
ByD = äJ-q Ba2N. nNGB- dimHGHL =1. Free bosons:
R2®8e< Leff=1
22HΠ2Π
1- Π1Π 2L-ÑΠ1ÑΠ1+ÑΠ2ÑΠ2
2 m .
1
V@Q1, Q2D = ä2.
nNGB- dimHGHL =1.
The matrix 1
V X@Qa, QbD\ = äBfa b c XQc\
V + za bF is more fundamental than XQVc\. za b’s are central extentions.
What we learned from examples: - In general, 1 £ nNGB£ dimHGHL. - When nNGB< dimHGHL, ä Ρa bº 1
V X@Qa, QbD\ ¹ 0 for some a, b. - Ρa b= -ä1
V X@Qa, QbD\ appears in the low-energy Lagrangian as a coefficient of ΠbΠ a- ΠaΠ b term. - Can we develop a theory that captures this universal feature?