Critical Dynamics of Gauge Systems: Spontaneous Vortex Formation in 2D Superconductors

G. J. Stephens; Luís M. A. Bettencourt; W. H. Zurek

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.137004

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Critical Dynamics of Gauge Systems: Spontaneous Vortex Formation in 2D Superconductors

G. J. Stephens, Luís M. A. Bettencourt, W. H. Zurek

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.137004 · Physical Review Letters

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Abstract

We examine the formation of vortices during the nonequilibrium relaxation of a high-temperature initial state of an Abelian-Higgs system. We equilibrate the scalar and gauge fields using gauge-invariant Langevin equations and relax the system by instantaneously removing thermal fluctuations. For couplings near critical, κc=λ/e=1, we observe the formation of large clusters of like-sign magnetic vortices. Their appearance has implications for the dynamics of the phase transition, for the distribution of topological defects, and for late-time phase ordering kinetics. We offer explanations for both the observed vortex densities and vortex configurations.