# Critical dynamics of gauge systems: Spontaneous vortex formation in 2D superconductors

Source: [Critical dynamics of gauge systems: Spontaneous vortex formation in 2D superconductors](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa2a831e209131ce83e460>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-24T13:36:45.041Z

Authors: G. J. Stephens, Luis M. A. Bettencourt, W. H. Zurek

Published: 2001-08-08T01:55:06.000Z

## Abstract

We examine the formation of vortices during the nonequilibrium relaxation of a high-temperature initial state of an Abelian-Higgs system. We equilibrate the scalar and gauge fields using gauge-invariant Langevin equations and relax the system by instantaneously removing thermal fluctuations. For couplings near critical we observe the formation of large clusters of like-sign magnetic vortices. Their appearance has implications for the dynamics of the phase transition, for the observed distribution of topological defects and for late-time phase ordering kinetics. We offer explanations for both the observed vortex densities and vortex configurations.

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## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0108127>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/cond-mat/0108127.pdf>)