Magnetic-field-induced superconductivity and superfluidity of W and Z bosons: in tandem transport and kaleidoscopic vortex states
Résumé
We show that in a background of a sufficiently strong magnetic field the electroweak sector of the quantum vacuum exhibits superconducting and, simultaneously, superfluid properties due to magnetic-field-induced condensation of, respectively, W and Z bosons. The phase transition to the "tandem" superconductor--superfluid phase - which is weakly sensitive to the Higgs sector of the standard model - occurs at the critical magnetic field of 10^{20} Tesla. The superconductor-superfluid phase has anisotropic transport properties as both charged and neutral superflows may propagate only along the magnetic field axis. The ground state possesses an unusual "kaleidoscopic" structure made of a hexagonal lattice of superfluid vortices superimposed on a triangular lattice of superconductor vortices. A weak electric field will induce both superconducting and, unexpectedly, superfluid flows.