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Symmetry breaking and the Goldstone theorem in de Sitter space

We consider an O(N) symmetric scalar field model in the mean field (Hartree) approximation and show that the symmetry can be broken in de Sitter space. We find that the phase transition can be of first order, and that its strength depends non-analytically on the parameters of the model. We also show that the would-be Goldstone bosons acquire a mass, effectively becoming pseudo-Goldstone bosons, thus breaking the O(N) symmetry. Our results imply that topological defects can form during inflation.