Higgs instability in gapless superfluidity/superconductivity

Abstract

In this letter we explore the Higgs instability in the gapless superfluid/superconducting phase. This is in addition to the (chromo)magnetic instability that is related to the fluctuations of the Nambu-Goldstone bosonic fields. While the latter may induce a single-plane-wave LOFF state, the Higgs instability favors spatial inhomogeneity and cannot be removed without a long range force. In the case of the g2SC state the Higgs instability can only be partially removed by the electric Coulomb energy. But this does not exclude the possibility that it can be completely removed in other exotic states such as the gCFL state.

4 pages, 2 figure, one figure added