Kibble-Zurek Mechanism

Phase transition quench → topological defect formation. Defect density ∝ quench rate^(ν/(1+νz))

Controls

Temperature:
Step:
Defects (+):
Defects (−):
Total defects:
Kibble-Zurek scaling:
ξ̂ ∝ τ_Q^(ν/(1+νz))
n_def ∝ ξ̂^(−d) ∝ τ_Q^(−νd/(1+νz))

Arrows show XY-model director field.
±½ vortices marked with circles.