2003/04/16 by K. Enqvist, K Enqvist, M. Laine +2
Physics and Astronomy · #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #astro-ph #cond-mat.stat-mech #physics.atom-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2003/08/003
published as JCAP 0308 (2003) 003 · 16 pages. v2: clarifications and references added
openalex publication_date 2003/04/16 · arxiv created 2003/08/22 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
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.