Topological Defect Coarsening (XY Model)

The 2D XY model has vortex and anti-vortex topological defects. After a quench, defect pairs annihilate and domains coarsen. The characteristic length scale grows as L(t) ~ t^1/2 — a universal power-law indicating curvature-driven dynamics. Colors show the spin angle θ at each site.

Controls

Grid size: 100 Temperature T: 0.50 Steps/frame: 5

Defects: —
Steps: 0
L(t) ~ t^1/2: expected for O(n) ordering
Vortices (+1): ■ Anti-vortices (-1): ■