Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2291 |
| Journal | Nature Communications |
| Volume | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Aug 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Symmetry breaking phase transitions play an important role in nature. When a system traverses such a transition at a finite rate, its causally disconnected regions choose the new broken symmetry state independently. Where such local choices are incompatible, topological defects can form. The Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts the defect densities to follow a power law that scales with the rate of the transition. Owing to its ubiquitous nature, this theory finds application in a wide field of systems ranging from cosmology to condensed matter. Here we present the successful creation of defects in ion Coulomb crystals by a controlled quench of the confining potential, and observe an enhanced power law scaling in accordance with numerical simulations and recent predictions. This simple system with well-defined critical exponents opens up ways to investigate the physics of non-equilibrium dynamics from the classical to the quantum regime.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- General Chemistry
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- General Physics and Astronomy
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In: Nature Communications, Vol. 4, 2291, 07.08.2013.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Topological defect formation and spontaneous symmetry breaking in ion Coulomb crystals
AU - Pyka, K.
AU - Keller, J.
AU - Partner, H. L.
AU - Nigmatullin, R.
AU - Burgermeister, T.
AU - Meier, D. M.
AU - Kuhlmann, K.
AU - Retzker, A.
AU - Plenio, M. B.
AU - Zurek, W. H.
AU - Del Campo, A.
AU - Mehlstäubler, T. E.
PY - 2013/8/7
Y1 - 2013/8/7
N2 - Symmetry breaking phase transitions play an important role in nature. When a system traverses such a transition at a finite rate, its causally disconnected regions choose the new broken symmetry state independently. Where such local choices are incompatible, topological defects can form. The Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts the defect densities to follow a power law that scales with the rate of the transition. Owing to its ubiquitous nature, this theory finds application in a wide field of systems ranging from cosmology to condensed matter. Here we present the successful creation of defects in ion Coulomb crystals by a controlled quench of the confining potential, and observe an enhanced power law scaling in accordance with numerical simulations and recent predictions. This simple system with well-defined critical exponents opens up ways to investigate the physics of non-equilibrium dynamics from the classical to the quantum regime.
AB - Symmetry breaking phase transitions play an important role in nature. When a system traverses such a transition at a finite rate, its causally disconnected regions choose the new broken symmetry state independently. Where such local choices are incompatible, topological defects can form. The Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts the defect densities to follow a power law that scales with the rate of the transition. Owing to its ubiquitous nature, this theory finds application in a wide field of systems ranging from cosmology to condensed matter. Here we present the successful creation of defects in ion Coulomb crystals by a controlled quench of the confining potential, and observe an enhanced power law scaling in accordance with numerical simulations and recent predictions. This simple system with well-defined critical exponents opens up ways to investigate the physics of non-equilibrium dynamics from the classical to the quantum regime.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84881441632&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/ncomms3291
DO - 10.1038/ncomms3291
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84881441632
VL - 4
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
M1 - 2291
ER -