  When traversing a symmetry breaking second order phase transition at a finite
rate, topological defects form whose number dependence on the quench rate is
given by simple power laws. We propose a general approach for the derivation of
such scaling laws that is based on the analytical transformation of the
associated equations of motion to a universal form rather than employing
plausible physical arguments. We demonstrate the power of this approach by
deriving the scaling of the number of topological defects in both homogenous
and non-homogenous settings. The general nature and extensions of this approach
is discussed.
