Nonlinear Phenomena in Canonical Stochastic Quantization

Stochastic quantization provides a connection between quantum field theory and statistical mechanics, with applications especially in gauge field theories. Euclidean quantum field theory is viewed as the equilibrium limit of a statistical system coupled to a thermal reservoir. Nonlinear phenomena in stochastic quantization arise when employing nonlinear Brownian motion as an underlying stochastic process. We discuss a novel formulation of the Higgs mechanism in QED.