Are All Phase Transitions Symmetry Breaking Transitions?

Explore a 47-minute conference talk by Xie Chen from Caltech examining the fundamental question of whether all phase transitions can be classified as symmetry breaking transitions. Recorded during the Generalized Symmetries: High-Energy, Condensed Matter and Mathematics KITP conference held April 7-10, 2025 at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara. The conference highlights recent advances in quantum field theory that reframe symmetries through the lens of topological defects acting on operator spaces, creating a generalized understanding of symmetries with applications across condensed matter, high energy physics, and quantum gravity. Coordinated by Maissam Barkeshli, Michele Del Zotto, Sakura Schafer-Nameki, and Shu-Heng Shao, this presentation contributes to the conference's goal of sharing cutting-edge developments and open problems in the field.