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arXiv · 2604.00690

Topological defect induced phase separation in a holographic system

Zi-Qiang Zhao·Zhang-Yu Nie·Jing-Fei Zhang·Xin Zhang
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Abstract

We investigate the coupled dynamics of symmetry breaking and phase separation during quenches across the critical point in a first-order phase transition. Based on the Einstein-Maxwell-scalar theory, we construct a holographic superfluid model with $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry. By introducing higher-order nonlinear terms $\lambda\Psi^4$ and $\tau\Psi^6$ into the scalar field potential, we realize a rich phase structure, which enables us to study the coupling effects between symmetry breaking and phase separation. Furthermore, by preparing initial conditions with well-defined spatial partitions, we discover a new triggering mechanism for the invasion phenomenon, namely that kinks serve as triggering sites for the phase separation process. This study reveals a novel coupling mechanism between topological defects and phase separation, enriches our understanding of nonequilibrium structure formation in strongly coupled systems.

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Zi-Qiang Zhao, Zhang-Yu Nie, Jing-Fei Zhang, Xin Zhang. 2026-04-01. Topological defect induced phase separation in a holographic system. https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.00690

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