Defect-freezing and defect-unbinding in the Vector Complex Ginzburg-Landau equation

Abstract

We describe the dynamical behavior found in numerical solutions of the Vector Complex Ginzburg-Landau equation in parameter values where plane waves are stable. Topological defects in the system are responsible for a rich behavior. At low coupling between the vector components, a frozen phase is found, whereas a gas-like phase appears at higher coupling. The transition is a consequence of a defect unbinding phenomena. Entropy functions display a characteristic behavior around the transition.