title: Universality in the Dynamics of Second-Order Phase Transitions.
abstract: When traversing a symmetry-breaking second-order phase transition at a finite rate, topological defects form whose number dependence on the quench rate is given by simple power laws. We propose a general approach for the derivation of such scaling laws that is based on the analytical transformation of the associated equations of motion to a universal form rather than employing plausible physical arguments. We demonstrate the power of this approach by deriving the scaling of the number of topological defects in both homogeneous and nonhomogeneous settings. The general nature and extensions of this approach are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, Universität Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany.|Institute of Physical Research, 378410 Ashtarak-2, Armenia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikoghosyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nigmatullin
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, Universität Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Plenio