Exceptional points preceding and enabling spontaneous symmetry breaking

Spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) plays a central role in many areas of physics, from particle interactions to optical systems. Exceptional points (EPs), where system properties become degenerate, are often believed to occur together with SSB. Here we investigate the intricate relationship between SSB and a specific class of EPs across three distinct, real-world scenarios in nonlinear optics. In these systems, the two phenomena do not coincide; they occur at dislocated points in parameter space, but are interdependent. This recurring behavior across disparate platforms implies that such decoupling is not unique to these optical systems, but likely reflects a more general principle. Our results highlight the need for careful analysis of assumed correlations between SSB and EPs in both theoretical and applied contexts. They deepen our understanding of nonlinear dynamics in optical systems and prompt a broader reconsideration of contexts where EPs and SSB are thought to be interdependent.