Off-equilibrium infrared structure of self-interacting scalar fields: Universal scaling, Vortex-antivortex superfluid dynamics and Bose-Einstein condensation

TL;DR

This paper maps the infrared dynamics of a relativistic scalar field to nonrelativistic superfluid behavior, revealing universal scaling, vortex dynamics, and Bose-Einstein condensation through analytical and numerical methods.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mapping from relativistic scalar fields to the Gross-Pitaevskii equation, enabling detailed study of off-equilibrium superfluid phenomena.

Findings

Universal scaling exponents match numerical GP simulations

Observation of vortex-antivortex superfluid dynamics

Evidence of off-equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensation

Abstract

We map the infrared dynamics of a relativistic single component ($N=1$) interacting scalar field theory to that of nonrelativistic complex scalar fields. The Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation, describing the real time dynamics of single component ultracold Bose gases, is obtained at first nontrivial order in an expansion proportional to the powers of $\lambda \phi^2/m^2$ where $\lambda$, $\phi$ and $m$ are the coupling constant, the scalar field and the particle mass respectively. Our analytical studies are corroborated by numerical simulations of the spatial and momentum structure of overoccupied scalar fields in (2+1)-dimensions. Universal scaling of infrared modes, vortex-antivortex superfluid dynamics and the off-equilibrium formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate are observed. Our results for the universal scaling exponents are in agreement with those extracted in the numerical simulations of the GP equation. As in these simulations, we observe coarsening phase kinetics in the Bose superfluid with strongly anomalous scaling exponents relative to that of vertex resummed kinetic theory. Our relativistic field theory framework further allows one to study more closely the coupling between superfluid and normal fluid modes, specifically the turbulent momentum and spatial structure of the coupling between a quasi-particle cascade to the infrared and an energy cascade to the ultraviolet. We outline possible applications of the formalism to the dynamics of vortex-antivortex formation and to the off-equilibrium dynamics of the strongly interacting matter formed in heavy-ion collisions.