Topological Defects [The Physics Travel Guide]

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--- advanced_notions:topological_defects [2017/12/20 11:04]
jakobadmin [Why is it interesting?]
+++ advanced_notions:topological_defects [2017/12/20 11:10]
jakobadmin [Researcher]
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 <tabbox Layman>
-<note tip>
-Explanations in this section should contain no formulas, but instead colloquial things like you would hear them during a coffee break or at a cocktail party.
+  * A great laymen introduction to topoltogical defects can be found at https://skepticsplay.blogspot.de/2013/02/what-are-topological-defects.html
-</note>
+  * See also http://web.mit.edu/8.334/www/grades/projects/projects14/TrungPhan_8334WP/foundation-5.2.2/index.html for some very nice illustration of topological defects
 <tabbox Student>
-Topological defects are most easily understood by considering the scalar potential. A non-trivial vev breaks a given group $G$ to some subgroup $H$. Depending on the [[advanced_tools:topology:homotopy|homotopy class]] of the vacuum manifold $G/H$ (speak [[advanced_tools:group_theory:quotient_group|G mod H]]), we get different topological defects.
-  * If the [[advanced_tools:topology:homotopy|homotopy class]] of $G/H$ is non-trivial this tells us that the vacuum manifold is not connected and thus there are **domain walls** between the different sectors. A domain wall is a **two-dimensional** object with non-zero field energy. An example, is a scalar potential with $Z_2$ symmetry that breaks to the trivial subgroup $1$. The vacuum manifold is $Z_2/1=Z_2$ and is therefore disconnected. <q>"For a surface, or domain wall, what we have said so far leads us to expect a map
-$S^0 \to M$ (for a d-dimensional singularity has led to a map $S^{2-d} \to M$). So, the unit
-sphere $S^0$ in R, consists of the two points $\pm 1$. One of the points, +1, corresponds to a
-point on one side of the domain wall and the other, -1, to a point on the other side." </q>
-  * If the first homotopy class of $G/H$ is non-trivial, we get **one-dimensional** topological defects that are called **strings**. An example is when a scalar potential with $U(1)$ symmetry breaks to the trivial subgroup $1$. The vacuum manifold is $U(1)/1=U(1) \simeq S^1$, which is connected, but not simply connected. This makes it possible that strings show up. (For an explanation with $S^1$ is not simply connected, see section 1.3.1 [[http://people.physics.tamu.edu/pope/geom-group.pdf|here]])
-  * If the second homotopy class of $G/H$ is non-trivial, we get a **zero-dimensional** topological defect, a "a pointlike singularity" that is called a **[[topology:notions:magnetic_monopoles|monopole]]**.  An example is when a scalar potential with $SU(2)$ symmetry breaks to $U(1)$. The vacuum manifold is $SU(2)/U(1)\simeq S^2$.
-  * If the third homotopy class of $G/H$ is non-trivial, we get so called “**textures**”. In fact the notion "textures" is more popular among condensed matter physicists and particle physicists call this kind of topological defect **Skyrmions**.  <q>"If space is a three sphere, we can have a texture wrapped around the entire three sphere and this would give a static solution in the model."</q> ([[https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-ph/9710292.pdf|source]]). An example is when a scalar potential with $SU(2)$ symmetry breaks to the trivial subgroup $1$. The vacuum manifold is $SU(2)/1 =SU(2) \simeq S^3$.
-<blockquote>
-Consider the possibility that φ = +η at x = +∞ and φ = −η at x = −∞. In this case, the continuous function φ(x) has to go from −η to +η as x is taken from −∞ to +∞ and so must necessarily pass through φ = 0. But then there is energy in this field configuration since the potential is non-zero when φ = 0. Also, this configuration cannot relax to either of the two vacuum
-configurations, say φ(x) = +η, since that involves changing the field over an
-infinite volume from −η to +η, which would cost an infinite amount of energy
-<cite>https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-ph/9710292.pdf</cite>
-</blockquote>
 ----
@@ Line 59: / Line 44: @@
 <tabbox Researcher>
-<note tip>
+Topological defects are most easily understood by considering the scalar potential. A non-trivial vev breaks a given group $G$ to some subgroup $H$. Depending on the [[advanced_tools:topology:homotopy|homotopy class]] of the vacuum manifold $G/H$ (speak [[advanced_tools:group_theory:quotient_group|G mod H]]), we get different topological defects.
-The motto in this section is: //the higher the level of abstraction, the better//.
-</note>
+  * If the [[advanced_tools:topology:homotopy|homotopy class]] of $G/H$ is non-trivial this tells us that the vacuum manifold is not connected and thus there are **domain walls** between the different sectors. A domain wall is a **two-dimensional** object with non-zero field energy. An example, is a scalar potential with $Z_2$ symmetry that breaks to the trivial subgroup $1$. The vacuum manifold is $Z_2/1=Z_2$ and is therefore disconnected. For a surface, or domain wall, what we have said so far leads us to expect a map $S^0 \to M$ (for a d-dimensional singularity has led to a map $S^{2-d} \to M$). So, the unit sphere $S^0$ in R, consists of the two points $\pm 1$. One of the points, +1, corresponds to a point on one side of the domain wall and the other, -1, to a point on the other side."
+  * If the first homotopy class of $G/H$ is non-trivial, we get **one-dimensional** topological defects that are called **strings**. An example is when a scalar potential with $U(1)$ symmetry breaks to the trivial subgroup $1$. The vacuum manifold is $U(1)/1=U(1) \simeq S^1$, which is connected, but not simply connected. This makes it possible that strings show up. (For an explanation with $S^1$ is not simply connected, see section 1.3.1 [[http://people.physics.tamu.edu/pope/geom-group.pdf|here]])
+  * If the second homotopy class of $G/H$ is non-trivial, we get a **zero-dimensional** topological defect, a "a pointlike singularity" that is called a **[[advanced_notions:topological_defects:magnetic_monopoles|monopole]]**.  An example is when a scalar potential with $SU(2)$ symmetry breaks to $U(1)$. The vacuum manifold is $SU(2)/U(1)\simeq S^2$.
+  * If the third homotopy class of $G/H$ is non-trivial, we get so called “**textures**”. In fact the notion "textures" is more popular among condensed matter physicists and particle physicists call this kind of topological defect **Skyrmions**.  "If space is a three sphere, we can have a texture wrapped around the entire three sphere and this would give a static solution in the model." ([[https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-ph/9710292.pdf|source]]). An example is when a scalar potential with $SU(2)$ symmetry breaks to the trivial subgroup $1$. The vacuum manifold is $SU(2)/1 =SU(2) \simeq S^3$.
+----
+**Recommended Resources:**
 <tabbox Examples>
---> Example1#
+--> Domain Wall#
+<blockquote>
+Consider the possibility that φ = +η at x = +∞ and φ = −η at x = −∞. In this case, the continuous function φ(x) has to go from −η to +η as x is taken from −∞ to +∞ and so must necessarily pass through φ = 0. But then there is energy in this field configuration since the potential is non-zero when φ = 0. Also, this configuration cannot relax to either of the two vacuum
+configurations, say φ(x) = +η, since that involves changing the field over an
+infinite volume from −η to +η, which would cost an infinite amount of energy
+<cite>https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-ph/9710292.pdf</cite>
+</blockquote>
-<--
---> Example2:#

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