Nielsen–Olesen instability
E735492
The Nielsen–Olesen instability is a quantum field theory phenomenon describing how certain uniform field configurations, such as constant chromomagnetic fields, become unstable and decay into more complex structures like flux tubes or vortices.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Nielsen–Olesen instability canonical | 1 |
Statements (42)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
instability
ⓘ
quantum field theory phenomenon ⓘ |
| appliesTo |
Yang–Mills theory
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
non‑Abelian gauge theories ⓘ |
| associatedWith |
imaginary part of the effective action
ⓘ
tachyonic gluon modes ⓘ |
| concerns | stability analysis of background gauge fields ⓘ |
| consequence |
breakdown of homogeneous chromomagnetic background
ⓘ
formation of inhomogeneous field configurations ⓘ formation of vortex lattice–like structures ⓘ |
| context | non‑Abelian chromomagnetic background fields ⓘ |
| describes |
decay of constant chromomagnetic fields
ⓘ
formation of flux tubes ⓘ formation of vortices ⓘ instability of certain uniform field configurations ⓘ |
| feature |
exponential growth of unstable modes
ⓘ
negative eigenvalues in fluctuation operator ⓘ |
| field | quantum field theory ⓘ |
| implies |
constant chromomagnetic fields are not true vacuum states
ⓘ
true vacuum favors structured field configurations ⓘ |
| mathematicalFramework | Yang–Mills equations in a constant background field ⓘ |
| mechanism |
imaginary energy modes indicating decay
ⓘ
tachyonic modes in the spectrum of fluctuations ⓘ |
| namedAfter |
Holger Bech Nielsen
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Poul Olesen NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| originatesFrom | analysis of small fluctuations around a constant chromomagnetic background ⓘ |
| predicts |
decay of constant chromomagnetic fields into vortices
ⓘ
spontaneous formation of flux tubes ⓘ |
| relatedConcept |
dual superconductor picture of confinement
ⓘ
magnetic condensation in QCD ⓘ vacuum instability ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
Abrikosov vortex lattice (by analogy)
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Nielsen–Olesen vortex NERFINISHED ⓘ Savvidy vacuum NERFINISHED ⓘ chromomagnetic field ⓘ magnetic flux tubes ⓘ vortex solutions ⓘ |
| studiedIn |
high‑energy theoretical physics
ⓘ
lattice gauge theory (conceptual applications) ⓘ |
| supports | picture of confinement via flux tubes ⓘ |
| usedIn |
analysis of non‑perturbative gauge field configurations
ⓘ
studies of QCD vacuum structure ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.