Inhomogeneous superfluids

Abstract

We show examples of a striped superfluid in a simple $\lambda\varphi^4$ model at finite velocity and chemical potential with a global $U(1)$ or $U(2)$ symmetry. Whenever the chemical potential is large enough we find flowing homogeneous solutions and static inhomogeneous solutions at any arbitrary small velocity. For the $U(1)$ model the inhomogeneous solutions found are energetically favourable for large enough superfluid velocity and the homogeneous and inhomogeneous phases are connected via a first order phase transitions. On the other hand, the $U(2)$ model becomes striped as soon as we turn on the velocity through a second order phase transition. In both models increasing the velocity leads to a second order phase transition into a phase with no condensate.