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Main Authors: Zhao, Zi-Qiang, Nie, Zhang-Yu, Zhang, Jing-Fei, Zhang, Xin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.00163
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author Zhao, Zi-Qiang
Nie, Zhang-Yu
Zhang, Jing-Fei
Zhang, Xin
author_facet Zhao, Zi-Qiang
Nie, Zhang-Yu
Zhang, Jing-Fei
Zhang, Xin
contents We study the interaction between spontaneous symmetry breaking and phase separation dynamics in holography. Using a double-quench protocol, the system first rapidly crosses the critical point and generates topological defects, while a second quench drives the system into a nonlinear unstable regime with spinodal decomposition. We investigate both $\mathbb{Z}_2$ and $U(1)$ symmetric systems, where different types of topological defects emerge during symmetry breaking. We show that topological defects dynamically determine the nucleation sites of phase separation. As the instability grows, the defect cores expand into macroscopic phase-separated domains. Despite the distinct symmetries and topological properties of these defects, both systems exhibit the same universal dynamical behavior, indicating that topological defects can universally serve as dynamical seeds for subsequent phase separation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2606_00163
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Phase separation seeded by Z2 and U(1) topological defects from holography
Zhao, Zi-Qiang
Nie, Zhang-Yu
Zhang, Jing-Fei
Zhang, Xin
High Energy Physics - Theory
Statistical Mechanics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Quantum Physics
We study the interaction between spontaneous symmetry breaking and phase separation dynamics in holography. Using a double-quench protocol, the system first rapidly crosses the critical point and generates topological defects, while a second quench drives the system into a nonlinear unstable regime with spinodal decomposition. We investigate both $\mathbb{Z}_2$ and $U(1)$ symmetric systems, where different types of topological defects emerge during symmetry breaking. We show that topological defects dynamically determine the nucleation sites of phase separation. As the instability grows, the defect cores expand into macroscopic phase-separated domains. Despite the distinct symmetries and topological properties of these defects, both systems exhibit the same universal dynamical behavior, indicating that topological defects can universally serve as dynamical seeds for subsequent phase separation.
title Phase separation seeded by Z2 and U(1) topological defects from holography
topic High Energy Physics - Theory
Statistical Mechanics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.00163