Defect formation in inhomogeneous 2-nd order phase transition: theory and experiment

TL;DR

This paper explores defect formation during rapid inhomogeneous phase transitions, combining theoretical models with experimental observations of vortex nucleation in superfluid helium-3, highlighting the role of temperature gradients and propagating transition fronts.

Contribution

It provides a unified theoretical framework for defect formation in inhomogeneous transitions and interprets experimental vortex nucleation data in superfluid helium-3.

Findings

Vortex nucleation observed during inhomogeneous cooling.

Theoretical models explain defect formation at propagating transition fronts.

Temperature gradients influence defect density and formation dynamics.

Abstract

The status quo in our understanding of defect formation during a rapid transition into the broken symmetry state in condensed matter and cosmology is discussed. An observation of vortex nucleation in neutron absorption experiments in superfluid 3He-B is interpreted in terms of defect formation during inhomogeneous cooling through T_c. Due to the temperature gradient in the locally heated region the superfluid phase transition occurs as a propagating front. The theoretical considerations of vortex formation at the propagating front are based on work by Kibble-Volovik, Kopnin-Thuneberg, and Aranson-Kopnin-Vinokur.