Speaker
Description
The interplay of rotation, external magnetic fields, and quantum fields has become an active topic at the interface of quantum field theory, condensed matter, and high-energy physics. In this contribution, we study the formation of scalar condensates in a rotating frame and, in particular, the emergence of vortex solutions in a charged scalar field. Our analysis is motivated both by fundamental interest in vacuum instabilities under extreme conditions and by possible applications to systems such as pion condensation in heavy-ion collisions or other strongly interacting media where rotation and magnetic flux may play a decisive role.
We build upon earlier work that demonstrated vacuum Bose condensation of a charged scalar field inside a uniformly rotating cylindrical system subjected to an all-pervading uniform magnetic field with Dirichlet boundary conditions. In the present study, we extend this setting to include a configuration where the magnetic field is confined to a thin flux tube aligned with the cylinder’s axis, rather than filling the entire volume. This geometry allows us to study the influence of the shape of the magnetic field.
The dynamics of the condensate are described by the nonlinear Ginzburg–Pitaevskii equation, which we solve perturbatively, numerically and using a semi-analytical approach for a range of parameters. We determine the critical angular velocities required for the onset of condensation, the spatial distribution of the scalar field, the average radii of the condensate, and the associated energies. We confirm the validity of the perturbative approach close to the onset of condensation. We show how for a rather strong condensate, its profile function shows a plateau.
A key finding is that, for the same external parameters, the energy of the condensate in the flux-tube configuration is significantly lower than that in the uniform magnetic-field case. This result suggests that localized flux tubes provide a more energetically favorable environment for vortex formation and scalar condensation. From a broader perspective, this observation indicates that the structure of the external magnetic field—whether extended or localized—can crucially influence both the stability and morphology of scalar condensates in rotating systems.
Beyond its theoretical significance, this study highlights possible implications for physical systems where rotation and magnetic fields coexist. In particular, the results may provide insights into the behavior of pion fields in the vortical and magnetized environments generated during relativistic heavy-ion collisions, where similar mechanisms could govern the emergence of novel collective states. More generally, the framework developed here contributes further to a bridge between condensed-matter analogues of vortex formation, such as in superconductors or superfluids, and high-energy scenarios where rotation and quantum fields intersect.
