Topological defect formation in a phase transition with tunable order

TL;DR

This paper investigates topological defect formation during phase transitions with tunable order, extending the Kibble-Zurek mechanism by integrating nucleation theory to predict defect densities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining KZM and nucleation theory to analyze defect formation in phase transitions whose order can be tuned from second to first.

Findings

Defect density can be predicted by the combined KZM and nucleation theory.

Phase transition order influences defect formation dynamics.

The approach applies to systems with weakly first-order transitions.

Abstract

The Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM) describes the non-equilibrium dynamics and topological defect formation in systems undergoing second-order phase transitions. KZM has found applications in fields such as cosmology and condensed matter physics. However, it is generally not suitable for describing first-order phase transitions. It has been demonstrated that transitions in systems like superconductors or charged superfluids, typically classified as second-order, can exhibit weakly first-order characteristics when the influence of fluctuations is taken into account. Moreover, the order of the phase transition (i.e., the extent to which it becomes first rather than second order) can be tuned. We explore quench-induced formation of topological defects in such tunable phase transitions and propose that their density can be predicted by combining KZM with nucleation theory.