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Kibble-Zurek Scaling of Topological Defects in First-Order Phase Transitions

Extends Kibble-Zurek scaling analysis from continuous to first-order phase transitions, showing that an intrinsic field prevents exact universal scaling of the topological-defect density (leaving at most a rough nonuniversal effective exponent) even though complete universal scaling of other properties such as the order parameter still holds, via an effective cubic theory adapted to cooling first-order transitions.

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Is there Kibble-Zurek scaling of topological defects in ﬁrst-order phase transitions? Fan Zhong

Asks whether the Kibble-Zurek (KZ) scaling law -- which relates the density of topological defects left behind when a system is cooled at a finite rate across a continuous phase transition to that co…