Electromagnetic superconductivity of vacuum induced by strong magnetic field: numerical evidence in lattice gauge theory

TL;DR

This paper provides numerical evidence from lattice gauge theory that a strong magnetic field can induce electromagnetic superconductivity in vacuum through the spontaneous generation of charged rho meson condensates.

Contribution

It demonstrates, via lattice simulations, that magnetic fields above a critical strength cause vacuum to become superconducting by forming charged rho meson condensates, a novel quantum phenomenon.

Findings

Charged rho meson condensates form above critical magnetic field.

Vacuum exhibits superconductivity under strong magnetic fields.

Critical magnetic field strength identified as eBc = 0.927(77) GeV^2.

Abstract

Using numerical simulations of quenched SU(2) gauge theory we demonstrate that an external magnetic field leads to spontaneous generation of quark condensates with quantum numbers of electrically charged rho mesons if the strength of the magnetic field exceeds the critical value eBc = 0.927(77) GeV^2 or Bc =(1.56 \pm 0.13) 10^{16} Tesla. The condensation of the charged rho mesons in strong magnetic field is a key feature of the magnetic-field-induced electromagnetic superconductivity of the vacuum.