Cargando…

Q-balls in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

Relativistic scalar field theories with a conserved global charge Q often possess (meta)stable spherically symmetric soliton solutions, called Q-balls. We elaborate on the perfect formal analogy which exists between Q-balls, and spherically symmetric solitons in certain non-relativistic atomic Bose-...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Enqvist, K., Laine, M.
Lenguaje:eng
Publicado: 2003
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2003/08/003
http://cds.cern.ch/record/613220
Descripción
Sumario:Relativistic scalar field theories with a conserved global charge Q often possess (meta)stable spherically symmetric soliton solutions, called Q-balls. We elaborate on the perfect formal analogy which exists between Q-balls, and spherically symmetric solitons in certain non-relativistic atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, for which the dominant interatomic interaction can be tuned attractive. The stability of such atomic Q-balls depends on higher-order interatomic interactions, which can render the Q-balls absolutely stable for large Q. In a harmonic trap, present in existing experiments, the Q-ball solution is modified in an essential way. If the trap is significantly prolongated in one direction, however, then genuine solitons do appear, and some of the Q-ball properties studied in a relativistic cosmological context, such as their formation and collisions, can also be addressed experimentally.