Electrodynamics of Abrikosov vortices: the Field Theoretical Formulation

Abstract

Electrodynamic phenomena related to vortices in superconductors have been studied since their prediction by Abrikosov, and seem to hold no fundamental mysteries. However, most of the effects are treated separately, with no guiding principle. We demonstrate that the relativistic vortex worldsheet in spacetime is the object that naturally conveys all electric and magnetic information, for which we obtain simple and concise equations. Breaking Lorentz invariance leads to down-to-earth Abrikosov vortices, and special limits of these equations include for instance dynamic Meissner screening and the AC Josephson relation. On a deeper level, we explore the electrodynamics of two-form sources in the absence of electric monopoles, in which the electromagnetic field strength itself acquires the characteristics of a gauge field. This novel framework leaves room for unexpected surprises.

LaTeX, 23 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (4)

• The Ginzburg-Landau Theory of Type II superconductors in magnetic field
• Terahertz Josephson plasma waves in layered superconductors: spectrum, generation, nonlinear, and quantum phenomena
• Condensing Nielsen-Olesen strings and the vortex-boson duality in 3+1 and higher dimensions
• Electromagnetic radiation from vortex flow in type-II superconductors

Cited by in corpus (9)

• Dual gauge field theory of quantum liquid crystals in three dimensions
• Holographic Abrikosov lattice: vortex matter from black hole
• Flux Quantization
• Emergent vortex-electron interaction from dualization
• Crystal gravity
• Type-II Bose-Mott insulators
• Spin gauge theory, duality and fermion pairing
• Periodic Cosmic String Formation and Dynamics
• Quantizing a Non-locally Massive 2-form Model