Scalar Electrodynamics and Higgs Mechanism in the Unfolded Dynamics Approach

Abstract: We put forward a novel method of constructing unfolded formulations of field theories, which is based on initial fixation of the form of an unfolded field and subsequent looking for the corresponding unfolded equation as an identity that this field satisfies. Making use of this method, we find an unfolded formulation for 4d scalar electrodynamics. By considering a symmetry-breaking scalar potential, we study the implementation of the Higgs mechanism within the framework of the unfolded dynamics approach. We explore a deformation of unfolded modules in the symmetry-broken phase and identify a non-invertible unfolded-field redefinition that diagonalizes the higgsed system.