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Zurek-Kibble domain structures: The Dynamics of Spontaneous Vortex formation in Annular Josephson Tunnel Junctions

R. Monaco·J. Mygind·R. Rivers
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Abstract

Phase transitions executed in a finite time show a domain structure with defects, that has been argued by Zurek and Kibble to depend in a characteristic way on the quench rate. In this letter we present an experiment to measure the Zurek-Kibble scaling exponent sigma. Using symmetric and long Josephson Tunnel Junctions, for which the predicted index is sigma = 0.25, we find sigma = 0.27 +/- 0.05. Further, there is agreement with the ZK prediction for the overall normalisation.

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R. Monaco, J. Mygind, R. Rivers. 2002-07-23. Zurek-Kibble domain structures: The Dynamics of Spontaneous Vortex formation in Annular Josephson Tunnel Junctions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.89.080603

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