Vortex Loop Phase Transitions in Liquid Helium, Cosmic Strings, and High-T_c Superconductors
Statistical Mechanics
2009-10-31 v3 Superconductivity
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Abstract
The distribution of thermally excited vortex loops near a superfluid phase transition is calculated from a renormalized theory. The number density of loops with a given perimeter is found to change from exponential decay with increasing perimeter to algebraic decay as T_c is approached, in agreement with recent simulations of both cosmic strings and high-T_c superconductors. Predictions of the value of the exponent of the algebraic decay at T_c and of critical behavior in the vortex density are confirmed by the simulations, giving strong support to the vortex-folding model proposed by Shenoy.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9807338,
title = {Vortex Loop Phase Transitions in Liquid Helium, Cosmic Strings, and High-T_c Superconductors},
author = {Gary A. Williams},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9807338},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
Version to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett, with a number of corrections and additions