Vortex Formation in Two Dimensions: When Symmetry Breaks, How Big Are the Pieces?

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.5477· OSTI ID:636194

Yates, A; Zurek, W H ^[1]; Yates, A ^[2]

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1. Theoretical Astrophysics T-6, MS B-288, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87455 (United States)
2. Departement de Physique Theorique, Universite de Geneve, 24, quai E. Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneve 4 (Switzerland)

We investigate the dynamics of second-order phase transitions in two dimensions, breaking a gauged U(1) symmetry. Using numerical simulations, we show that the density of the topological defects formed scales with the quench time scale {tau}{sub Q} as n{approximately}{tau}{sup {minus}1/2}{sub Q} when the dynamics is overdamped at the instant when the freeze-out of thermal fluctuations takes place, and n{approximately}{tau}{sup {minus}2/3}{sub Q} in the underdamped case. This is predicted by the scenario proposed by one of us (W.thinspH.thinspZ.). {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 636194
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 25 Vol. 80; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
DENSITY
FLUCTUATIONS
FREEZING
FREEZING OUT
HIGGS MODEL
ORDER PARAMETERS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SIMULATION
SYMMETRY BREAKING
TOPOLOGY
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
U-1 GROUPS
UNITARY SYMMETRY
VORTICES