Charged condensation

Gregory Gabadadze, Rachel A. Rosen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We consider Bose-Einstein condensation of massive electrically charged scalars in a uniform background of charged fermions. We focus on the case when the scalar condensate screens the background charge, while the net charge of the system resides on its boundary surface. A distinctive signature of this substance is that the photon acquires a Lorentz-violating mass in the bulk of the condensate. Due to this mass, the transverse and longitudinal gauge modes propagate with different group velocities. We give qualitative arguments that at high enough densities and low temperatures a charged system of electrons and helium-4 nuclei, if held together by laboratory devices or by force of gravity, can form such a substance. We briefly discuss possible manifestations of the charged condensate in compact astrophysical objects.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)266-272
    Number of pages7
    JournalPhysics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics
    Volume658
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jan 10 2008

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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