Holographic Phase Transitions of P-wave Superconductors in Gauss-Bonnet Gravity with Back-reaction

TL;DR

This paper explores how Gauss-Bonnet gravity and back-reaction influence phase transitions in holographic p-wave superconductors, revealing conditions that lead to first or second order transitions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the combined effects of Gauss-Bonnet term and back-reaction on the order of phase transitions in holographic p-wave superconductors.

Findings

Back-reaction makes vector condensations harder to form.

Gauss-Bonnet coefficient affects the transition order.

Both first and second order phase transitions are observed.

Abstract

We investigate the phase transitions of holographic p-wave superconductors in (4+1)-dimensional Einstein-Yang-Mills-Gauss-Bonnet theories, in a grand canonical ensemble. Turning on the back-reaction of the Yang-Mills field, it is found that the condensations of vector order parameter become harder if the Gauss-Bonnet coefficient grows up or the back-reaction becomes stronger. In particular, the vector order parameter exhibits the features of first order and second order phase transitions, while only the second order phase transition is observed in the probe limit. We discuss the roles that the Gauss-Bonnet term and the back-reaction play in changing the order of phase transition.