Proper effective temperature and order parameters in relativistic non-equilibrium steady states

TL;DR

This paper explores the concept of proper effective temperature in relativistic non-equilibrium steady states using gauge/gravity duality, revealing it as a key parameter for describing symmetry breaking in moving defects.

Contribution

It introduces the proper effective temperature as a unifying parameter for non-equilibrium steady states in relativistic systems, demonstrated through the D3-D5 holographic model.

Findings

Proper effective temperature captures the dependence of order parameters on temperature and velocity.

The study shows the importance of effective temperature in describing relativistic non-equilibrium states.

Spontaneous symmetry breaking is characterized by the proper effective temperature.

Abstract

We examine the concept of temperature in non-equilibrium steady states. Using the D3-D5 model of gauge/gravity duality, we investigate spontaneous symmetry breaking in a relativistic (2+1)-dimensional defect moving at constant velocity within a (3+1)-dimensional heat bath. We find that the dependence of the order parameter on both the heat bath temperature and the defect velocity can be captured by a single variable -- the proper effective temperature -- for the moving defect. Our results suggest that the proper effective temperature is an essential parameter for a class of relativistic non-equilibrium steady states.