Topological defect densities in type-I superconducting phase transitions

2002/06/30 by Jorge Páramos, J. Páramos, Orfeu Bertolami +4
Physics and Astronomy · #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Surface and Thin Film Phenomena #cond-mat #hep-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.67.134511

published as Phys.Rev. B67 (2003) 134511 · Revtex4, 1 eps figure, 6 pages. Change in title and in sections II and III so to broaden the scope of the paper. Additional author is included

arxiv created 2002/10/23 · openalex publication_date 2003/04/04 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We examine the consequences of a cubic term added to the mean-field potential of Ginzburg-Landau theory to describe first-order superconducting phase transitions. Constraints on its existence are obtained from experiment, which are used to assess its impact on topological defect creation. We find no fundamental changes in either the Kibble-Zurek or Hindmarsh-Rajantie predictions.

Citations

• Fate of the false vacuum: Semiclassical theory
• Formation of topological defects in gauge field theories
• Topology of cosmic domains and strings
• Search for spontaneous nucleation of magnetic flux during rapid cooling ofYBa2Cu3O7−δfilms throughTc