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Questions tagged [solitons]

Solitons are self-stabilizing solitary wave packets maintaining their shape propagating at a constant velocity. They are caused by a balance of nonlinear and dispersive (where the speed of the waves varies with frequency) effects in the medium.

29 votes
2 answers
1k views

$\phi^4$ theory kinks as fermions?

In 1+1 dimensions there is duality between models of fermions and bosons called bosonization (or fermionization). For instance the sine-Gordon theory $$\mathcal{L}= \frac{1}{2}\partial_\mu \phi \...
octonion's user avatar
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25 votes
1 answer
1k views

Causes of hexagonal shape of Saturn's jet stream

NASA has just shown a more detailed picture of the hexagonal vortex/storm on Saturn: http://www.ibtimes.com/nasa-releases-images-saturns-hexagon-mega-storm-may-have-been-swirling-centuries-1496218 ...
Luboš Motl's user avatar
24 votes
1 answer
871 views

Soliton Moduli Spaces and Homotopy Theory

The four-dimensional $SU(N)$ Yang-Mills Lagrangian is given by $$\mathcal{L}=\frac{1}{2e^2}\mathrm{Tr}F_{\mu\nu}F^{\mu\nu}$$ and gives rise to the Euclidean equations of motion $\mathcal{D}_\mu F^{\...
JamalS's user avatar
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19 votes
4 answers
5k views

Will tsunami waves travel forever if there was no land?

If there was no land for tsunami waves to collide with, can the waves travel around the globe for forever?
Bodvarion's user avatar
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19 votes
1 answer
1k views

Does the existence of Higgs imply the existence of Magnetic Monopoles?

I am aware that in theories with spontaneous symmetry breaking, Magnetic Monopoles can exist as topological solitons. Can the same be done with the Standard Model gauge group. I am familiar with the ...
Prathyush's user avatar
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15 votes
1 answer
992 views

Could this model have soliton solutions?

We consider a theory described by the Lagrangian, $$\mathcal{L}=i\bar{\Psi}\gamma^\mu\partial_\mu\Psi-m\bar{\Psi}\Psi+\frac{1}{2}g(\bar{\Psi}\Psi)^2$$ The corresponding field equations are, $$(i\...
Anthonny's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
886 views

No monopoles in the Weinberg-Salam model

I'm reading Chapter 10.4 on the 't Hooft-Polyakov monopoles in Ryder's Quantum Field Theory. On page 412 he explains why magnetic monopoles cannot appear in the Weinberg-Salam model. I'm I right by ...
Anne O'Nyme's user avatar
  • 3,872
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

Magnetic field lines and knots

As I was reading the book The Trouble With Physics, I encountered a small paragraph which seemed bit confusing. The paragraph goes as follows: Picture field lines, like the lines of magnetic field ...
Four Seasons's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
7k views

Explanation of the waves on the water planet in the movie Interstellar?

We will ignore some of the more obvious issues with the movie and assume all other things are consistent to have fun with some of these questions. Simple [hopefully] Pre-questions: 1) If the water ...
honeste_vivere's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
3k views

Erik Lentz's faster-than-light soliton

It's well known that, in relativity, if you can go faster than light, you can go backwards in time and create a paradox. Also, attempts to create "warp-drive" space-times in which something ...
Mitchell Porter's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
4k views

What is the definition of soliton?

What is the definition of soliton? I've encountered this name in different situations like when the topic discussed is about QFT, fluid dynamics or optics, but I cannot find a general definition. I've ...
skdys's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
365 views

KdV suggests a connection between waves in shallow water and the potential in the Schrödinger equation. What is the intuitive explanation?

The KdV equation $$v_t+\frac{1}{4}v_{xxx}-\frac{3}{2}vv_x=0$$ was originally invented to model waves in shallow water. However, it is well known that it also has applications in quantum mechanics. ...
Darren Ong's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

How do instantons look in real time/spacetime?

Instantons, as I understand it, are mathematical constructions in Euclidean spacetime. Does it imply that instantons do not exist in real spacetime or the instanton tunneling effects does not have ...
SRS's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
3k views

About solitons, what is the difference between kinks and vortices?

I am reading papers about solitons for my small reports, and i could not understand its physical meaning in detail. I know soliton is solitary wave which behaves like particle. And many text they ...
phy_math's user avatar
  • 3,622
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

Non-chiral skyrmion v.s. Left/Right chiral skyrmion

A skyrmion in a 3-dimensional space (or a 3-dimensional spacetime) is detected by a topological index $$n= {\tfrac{1}{4\pi}}\int\mathbf{M}\cdot\left(\frac{\partial \mathbf{M}}{\partial x}\times\frac{...
wonderich's user avatar
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