Topological Defects and the Non-Equilibrium Dynamics of Symmetry Breaking Phase Transitions

Topological defects formed at symmetry-breaking phase transitions play an important role in many different fields of physics. They appear in many condensed matter systems at low temperature, including vortices in superfluid He-4, defects in He-3, quantized magnetic flux tubes in type-II superconductors, and disclination lines and other defects in liquid crystals. In cosmology, unified gauge theories of particle interactions suggest a sequence of phase transitions in the very early universe, some of which may lead to defect formation. In astrophysics, defects play an important role in the dynamics of neutron stars. <br/> The present book begins with a Condensed Matter - High Energy & Cosmology dictionary, prepared by Grigory Volovik, which gives a common basis to ideas pertaining to these branches of modern physics. The following papers, written by experts in their respective fields, provide the fundamental concepts of symmetry-breaking phase transitions. The book represents the fruits of an exchange of ideas between particle physicists, cosmologists and condensed matter physicists.