Vortex Motion In Charged Fluids

Abstract

A non-relativistic scalar field coupled minimally to electromagnetism supports in the presence of a homogeneous background electric charge density the existence of smooth, finite-energy topologically stable flux vortices. The static properties of such vortices are studied numerically in the context of a two parameter model describing this system as a special case. It is shown that the electrostatic and the mexican hat potential terms of the energy are each enough to ensure the existence of vortex solutions. The interaction potential of two minimal vortices is obtained for various values of the parameters. It is proven analytically that a free isolated vortex with topological charge $N\ne 0$ is spontaneously pinned, while in the presence of an external force it moves at a calculable speed and in a direction $(N/|N|) 90^0$ relative to it. In a homogeneous external current $\tilde {\bf J}$ the vortex velocity is $\bf V=-\tilde J$. Other theories with the same vortex behaviour are briefly discussed.