Topological Defect Formation beyond the Kibble-Zurek Mechanism in Crossover Transitions with Approximate Symmetries

Author(s): Peng Yang, Chuan-Yin Xia, Sebastian Grieninger, Hua-Bi Zeng, and Matteo Baggioli The formation of topological defects during continuous second-order phase transitions is well described by the Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM). However, when the spontaneously broken symmetry is only approximate, such transitions become smooth crossovers, and the applicability of KZM in these scenarios… [Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 051602] Published Wed Feb 04, 2026