Nonlinear Maxwell Theory and Electrons in Two Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper explores a nonlinear extension of Maxwell's equations in two dimensions, revealing a new vortex lattice formation mechanism that emerges when a magnetic field parameter exceeds a critical threshold, with implications for superconductivity and quantum Hall effects.

Contribution

It introduces a discrete two-dimensional model of nonlinear Maxwell equations, discovering a novel vortex lattice formation mechanism and providing both analytical and numerical evidence of vortex solutions.

Findings

Vortex lattice solutions emerge above a critical magnetic field parameter.

Discrete vortex solutions are proven to exist and can be computed numerically.

The model suggests the potential existence of continuous domain solutions, challenging current topological methods.

Abstract

We consider a system of nonlinear equations that extends the Maxwell theory. It was pointed out in a previous paper that symmetric solutions of these equations display properties characteristic of magnetic oscillations. In this paper I study a discrete model of the equations in two dimensions. This leads to the discovery of a new mechanism of vortex lattice formation. Namely, when a parameter corresponding to a magnetic field normal to the surface increases above a certain critical level, the trivial uniform-magnetic-field solution becomes, in a certain sense, unstable and a periodic vortex lattice solution emerges. The discrete vortex solutions are proven to exist, and can also be found numerically with high accuracy. Description of magnetic vortices given by the equations is optical in spirit, and may be particularly attractive in the context of high-$T_c$ superconductivity and the quantum Hall effects. Moreover, analysis of parameters involved in the discrete theory suggests existence of continuous domain solutions---a conjecture that seems unobvious on grounds of the current topological and variational methods.