Spontaneous symmetry breaking in the O(N) model for large N

We study the O(N) generalization of the σ model in the limit of large N, for four, three, two, and one space-time dimensions. We compute the effective potential and some momentum-dependent Green's functions. In one and two dimensions, spontaneous symmetry breakdown is impossible; any asymmetric minimum inserted in the tree-approximation potential is immediately filled in by the effects of radiative corrections. This is in agreement with general theorems. In four dimensions, the model is inconsistent; it possesses a tachyon. In three dimensions, the model seems to be consistent, and offers an interesting example of some nonlinear effects associated with spontaneous symmetry breakdown that are not present in the usual (tree-approximation) models.