G. Gaeta , P. Morando
Michel theory of symmetry breaking and gauge theories
(191K, PS)

ABSTRACT.  We extend Michel's theorem on the geometry of symmetry
breaking [1] to the case of pure gauge theories, i.e. of
gauge-invariant functionals defined on the space $\C$ of connections of a
principal fiber bundle. Our proof follows closely the original one by
Michel, using several known results on the geometry of $\C$. The result
(and proof) is also extended to the case of gauge theories with matter
fields.