Little and Large:Topological Defects in Cosmology and Condensed Matter Theory

ORAL

Abstract

Cosmology and condensed matter theory seem to be worlds apart, and yet are ubiquitously linked. Testing our current understanding of phenomena that occur on galactic scales can now be realized in the laboratory. The coming-together of cosmology and condensed matter theory is facilitated by the phase transitions and defect formation that is common to both areas. A recurring question in cosmology has concerned whether the vacuum is empty or contains vortex-strings or other topological defects. Understanding the formation and evolution of these topological defects plays a significant role in our understanding of cosmology and the early universe. Condensed matter systems provide an important starting point to studying the phenomena of phase transitions and the formation of topological defects. In both the cosmological and condensed matter scenarios, symmetry breaking causes a change to a degenerate vacuum manifold with non-trivial topology. This occurrence will be discussed along with experimental results in superfluid Helium and superconductors.

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Authors

  • Joshua Lusk

    University of New Mexico, Gallup Campus, Sciprint.org, Institute of Gravitation and Cosmology, Moscow, Russia, CSU Long Beach, California State University - East Bay, LLNL, UC Santa Cruz, University of California, Berkeley, Loma Linda Medical University, Northern Illinois University, Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, Dr, Pr, California State University Long Beach, California Polytechnic State University, Department of Physics, California State University, Fresno, NPS, UC-Davis, University of California-Davis, University of California Riverside, Rutgers University, Pomona College, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, Materials Research Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara, Naval Postgraduate School, Whittier College, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales - Cardiff School of Biosciences, University of California, Davis - Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Davis - Neurosurgery, Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5050, Queen's University, Belfast, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Technical University of Darmstadt, University of York, University of California, Los Angeles, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Imperial College, The Blackett Laboratory, University of Strathclyde, University of Oxford, UC Berkeley, UC Berkeley, SLAC, Gesellschaft f\"ur Schwerionenforschung GSI, University of Washington, Seattle, LLNL and XIA LLC, University of Graz, University of California, Davis, Naval Surface Warfare Center-Indian Head Division

  • Joshua Lusk

    University of New Mexico, Gallup Campus, Sciprint.org, Institute of Gravitation and Cosmology, Moscow, Russia, CSU Long Beach, California State University - East Bay, LLNL, UC Santa Cruz, University of California, Berkeley, Loma Linda Medical University, Northern Illinois University, Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, Dr, Pr, California State University Long Beach, California Polytechnic State University, Department of Physics, California State University, Fresno, NPS, UC-Davis, University of California-Davis, University of California Riverside, Rutgers University, Pomona College, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, Materials Research Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara, Naval Postgraduate School, Whittier College, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales - Cardiff School of Biosciences, University of California, Davis - Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Davis - Neurosurgery, Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5050, Queen's University, Belfast, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Technical University of Darmstadt, University of York, University of California, Los Angeles, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Imperial College, The Blackett Laboratory, University of Strathclyde, University of Oxford, UC Berkeley, UC Berkeley, SLAC, Gesellschaft f\"ur Schwerionenforschung GSI, University of Washington, Seattle, LLNL and XIA LLC, University of Graz, University of California, Davis, Naval Surface Warfare Center-Indian Head Division