We study BPS solitons in N=6 U(N) \times U(N) Chern-Simons-matter theory deformed by an F-term mass. The F-term mass generically breaks N=6 supersymmetry down to N=2. At vacua, M2-branes are polarized into a fuzzy S^3 forming a spherical M5-brane with topology \mathbf{R}^{1,2} \times S^3. The polarization is interpreted as Myers' dielectric effect caused by an anti-self-dual 4-form flux T_4 in the eleven-dimensional supergravity. Assuming a polarized M2-brane configuration, the model effectively reduces to the well-known abelian Chern-Simons-Higgs model studied in detail by Jackiw-Lee-Weinberg. We find that the potential for the fuzzy S^3 radius agrees with the one calculated from the M5-brane point of view at large N. This effective model admits not only BPS topological vortex and domain wall solutions but also non-topological solitons that keep 1/4 of the manifest N=2 supersymmetry. We also comment on the reduction of our configuration to ten dimensions.
We show that Abelian Higgs Models with dielectric function defined on the noncommutative plane enjoy self-dual vorticial solutions. By choosing a particular form of the dielectric function, we provide a family of solutions whose Higgs and magnetic fields interpolate between the profiles of the noncommutative Nielsen-Olesen and Chern-Simons vortices. This is done both for the usual $U(1)$ model and for the $SU(2)\times U(1)$ semilocal model with a doublet of complex scalar fields. The variety of known noncommutative self-dual vortices which display a regular behaviour when the noncommutativity …
General formalism of quantum field theory and addition theorem for Bessel functions are applied to derive formula for Casimir-Polder energy of interaction between a polarizable particle and a dilute dielectric ball. The equivalence of dipole-dipole interaction and Casimir energy for dilute homogeneous dielectrics is shown. A novel method is used to derive Casimir energy of a dilute dielectric ball without divergences in calculations. Physically realistic model of a dilute ball is discussed. Different approaches to the calculation of Casimir energy of a dielectric ball are reviewed.
We apply general formalism of quantum field theory and addition theorem for Bessel functions to derive formula for the Casimir-Polder energy of interaction between a polarizable particle and a dilute dielectric ball and Casimir energy of a dilute dielectric ball. The correspondence between the Casimir-Polder formula and Casimir energy of a dilute dielectric ball is shown. Different approaches to the problem of Casimir energy of a dielectric ball are reviewed and analysed by use of addition theorem for Bessel functions.
We discuss three different globally regular non-topological stationary soliton solutions in the theory of a complex scalar field in 3+1 dimensions, so-called Q-balls, Q-vortices and Q-walls. The charge, energy and profiles of the corresponding solutions are presented for each configuration studied. The numerical investigation of these three types of solutions shows different behavior of charge and energy with changing frequency for each type. We investigate properties of new families of coupled non-topological 2-Q-ball solutions obtained within the same model by generalization of the ansatz fo…
The Casimir energy of a dilute homogeneous nonmagnetic dielectric ball at zero temperature is derived analytically for the first time for an arbitrary physically possible frequency dispersion of dielectric permittivity $ε(iω)$. A microscopic model of dielectrics is considered, divergences are absent in calculations because an average interatomic distance $λ$ is a {\it physical} cut-off in the theory. This fact has been overlooked before, which led to divergences in various macroscopic approaches to the Casimir energy of connected dielectrics.
We analyse the ultraviolet divergencies in the ground state energy for a penetrable sphere and a dielectric ball. We argue that for massless fields subtraction of the ``empty space'' or the ``unbounded medium'' contribution is not enough to make the ground state energy finite whenever the heat kernel coefficient $a_2$ is not zero. It turns out that $a_2\ne 0$ for a penetrable sphere, a general dielectric background and the dielectric ball. To our surprise, for more singular configurations, as in the presence of sharp boundaries, the heat kernel coefficients behave to some extend better than in…
In our paper [Ann. Phys. (NY) 395, 326 (2018)] we calculate the Casimir stress on a sphere immersed in a homogeneous background, assuming dispersionless dielectrics. Our results appear to challenge the conventional picture of Casimir forces. The paper [arXiv:1909.05721] criticises our approach without offering an alternative. In particular, the paper [arXiv:1909.05721] claims that we have made an unjustified mathematical step. This brief comment clarifies the matter.
We consider a generalization of the abelian Higgs model with a Chern-Simons term by modifying two terms of the usual Lagrangian. We multiply a dielectric function with the Maxwell kinetic energy term and incorporate nonminimal interaction by considering generalized covariant derivative. We show that for a particular choice of the dielectric function this model admits both topological as well as nontopological charged vortices satisfying Bogomol'nyi bound for which the magnetic flux, charge and angular momentum are not quantized. However the energy for the topolgical vortices is quantized and i…
Some characteristic features in the radiation from a relativistic electron uniformly rotating along an equatorial orbit around a dielectric ball have been studied. It was shown that at some harmonics, in case of weak absorption of radiation in the ball material, the electron may generate radiation field quanta exceeding in several dozens of times those generated by electron rotating in a continuous, infinite and transparent medium having the same real part of permittivity as the ball material. The rise of high power radiation is due to the fact that electromagnetic oscillations of Cherenkov ra…
We investigate the vortex-type BPS equations in the ABJM theory without and with mass-deformation. We systematically classify the BPS equations in terms of the number of supersymmetry and the R-symmetries of the undeformed and mass-deformed ABJM theories. For the undeformed case, we analyze the ${\cal N}=2$ BPS equations for U(2)$\times$U(2) gauge symmetry and obtain a coupled differential equation which can be reduced to either Liouville- or Sinh-Gordon-type vortex equations according to the choice of scalar functions. For the mass-deformed case with U($N$)$\times$U($N$) gauge symmetry, we ob…
In the $(ε_1-ε_2)^2$--approximation the Casimir energy of a dilute dielectric ball is derived using a simple and clear method of the mode summation. The addition theorem for the Bessel functions enables one to present in a closed form the sum over the angular momentum before the integration over the imaginary frequencies. The linear in $(ε_1-ε_2)$ contribution into the vacuum energy is removed by an appropriate subtraction. The role of the contact terms used in other approaches to this problem is elucidated.
The basic results in calculations of the thermodynamic functions of electromagnetic field in the background of a dilute dielectric ball at zero and finite temperature are presented. Summation over the angular momentum values is accomplished in a closed form by making use of the addition theorem for the relevant Bessel functions. The behavior of the thermodynamic characteristics in the low and high temperature limits is investigated. The $T^3$-term in the low temperature expansion of the free energy is recovered (this term has been lost in our previous calculations).
The Casimir effect at finite temperature is investigated for a dilute dielectric ball; i.e., the relevant internal and free energies are calculated. The starting point in this study is a rigorous general expression for the internal energy of a system of noninteracting oscillators in terms of the sum over the Matsubara frequencies. Summation over the angular momentum values is accomplished in a closed form by making use of the addition theorem for the relevant Bessel functions. For removing the divergences the renormalization procedure is applied that has been developed in the calculation of th…
The radiation from a relativistic electron uniformly rotating along an orbit in the equatorial plane of a dielectric ball was calculated taking into account the dielectric losses of energy and dispersion of electromagnetic oscillations inside the substance of ball. It was shown that due to the presence of ball the radiation from the particle at some harmonics may be several dozens of times more intense than that from the particle rotating in an infinite homogeneous (and transparent) dielectric. The generation of such a high power radiation is possible only at some particular values of the rati…
The Casimir surface force density F on a dielectric dilute spherical ball of radius a, surrounded by a vacuum, is calculated at zero temperature. We treat (n-1) (n being the refractive index) as a small parameter. The dispersive properties of the material are taken into account by adopting a simple dispersion relation, involving a sharp high frequency cutoff at omega = omega_0. For a nondispersive medium there appears (after regularization) a finite, physical, force F^{nondisp} which is repulsive. By means of a uniform asymptotic expansion of the Riccati-Bessel functions we calculate F^{nondis…
We show analytically that the vacuum electromagnetic stress-energy tensor outside a ball with constant dielectric constant and permeability always obeys the weak, null, dominant, and strong energy conditions. There are still no known examples in quantum field theory in which the averaged null energy condition in flat spacetime is violated.
It is shown that the quasi-normal modes arise, in a natural way, when considering the oscillations in unbounded regions by imposing the radiation condition at spatial infinity with a complex wave vector $k$. Hence quasi-normal modes are not peculiarities of gravitation problems only (black holes and relativistic stars). It is proposed to consider the space form of the quasi-normal modes with allowance for their time dependence. As a result, the problem of their unbounded increase when $r\to \infty$ is not encountered more. The properties of quasi-normal modes of a compact dielectric sphere are…
We consider nontopological first-order solitons arising from a gauged $CP(2)$ model in the presence of the Maxwell term multiplied by a nontrivial dielectric function. We implement the corresponding first-order scenario by proceeding the minimization of the total energy, this way introducing the corresponding energy lower-bound, such a construction being only possible due to a differential constraint including the dielectric function itself and the self-interacting potential defining the model. We saturate the aforementioned bound by focusing our attention on those solutions fulfilling a parti…
The Casimir energy of a dilute homogeneous nonmagnetic dielectric ball at zero temperature is derived analytically within a microscopic realistic model of dielectrics for an arbitrary physically possible frequency dispersion of dielectric permittivity. Divergences are absent in calculations, a minimum interatomic distance is a physical cut-off. Casimir surface force is proved to be attractive. A physical definition of the Casimir energy is discussed.
The Casimir energy, free energy and Casimir force are evaluated, at arbitrary finite temperature, for a dilute dielectric ball with uniform velocity of light inside the ball and in the surrounding medium. In particular, we investigate the classical limit at high temperature. The Casimir force found is repulsive, as in previous calculations.
Non-topological solitons (Q-balls) are discussed in some stringy settings. Our main result is that the dielectric D-brane system of Myers admits non-abelian Q-ball solutions on their world-volume, in which $N$ D$p$-branes relax to the standard dielectric form outside the Q-ball, but assume a more diffuse configuration at its centre. We also consider how Q-balls behave in the bulk of extra-dimensional theories, or on wrapped branes. We demonstrate that they carry Kaluza-Klein charge and possess a corresponding Kaluza-Klein tower of states just as normal particles, and we discuss surface energy …
In this paper we sum over the spherical modes appearing in the expression for the Casimir energy of a conducting sphere and of a dielectric ball (assuming the same speed of light inside and outside), before doing the frequency integration. We derive closed integral expressions that allow the calculations to be done to all orders, without the use of regularization procedures. The technique of mode summation using a contour integral is critically examined.
It has always been conventionally understood that, in the dilute limit, the Casimir energy of interaction between bodies or the Casimir self-energy of a dielectric body could be identified with the sum of the van der Waals or Casimir-Polder energies of the constituents of the bodies. Recently, this proposition for self-energies has been challenged by Avni and Leonhardt [Ann.\ Phys.\ {\bf 395}, 326 (2018)], who find that the energy or self-stress of a homogeneous dielectric ball with permittivity $\varepsilon$ begins with a term of order $\varepsilon-1$. Here we demonstrate that this cannot be …
It is familiar that the Casimir self-energy of a homogeneous dielectric ball is divergent, although a finite self-energy can be extracted through second order in the deviation of the permittivity from the vacuum value. The exception occurs when the speed of light inside the spherical boundary is the same as that outside, so the self-energy of a perfectly conducting spherical shell is finite, as is the energy of a dielectric-diamagnetic sphere with $\varepsilonμ=1$, a so-called isorefractive or diaphanous ball. Here we re-examine that example, and attempt to extend it to an electromagnetic $δ$-…
We study the angular distribution of the radiation from a relativistic charged particle uniformly rotating along an equatorial orbit around a dielectric ball. Earlier it was shown that for some values of the problem parameters and in the case of weak absorption in the ball material, the radiation intensity on a given harmonic can be essentially larger than that for the same charge rotating in the vacuum or in a homogeneous transparent medium having the same real part of dielectric permittivity as the ball material. The generation of such high power radiation is a consequence of the constructiv…
A new formula for the Casimir energy of a dispersive dilute dielectric ball is discussed. The formula for the Casimir energy of a polarizable particle situated in a perfectly conducting wedge-shaped cavity is derived by a path-integral coordinate space method in quantum field theory.
We consider a generalization of the abelian Higgs model with a Chern-Simons term by modifying two terms of the usual Lagrangian. We multiply a dielectric function with the Maxwell kinetic energy term and incorporate nonminimal interaction by considering generalized covariant derivative. We show that for a particular choice of the dielectric function this model admits topological vortices satisfying Bogomol'nyi bound for which the magnetic flux is not quantized even though the energy is quantized. Furthermore, the vortex solution in each topological sector is infinitely degenerate.
Cosmic strings are considered in two types of gauged sigma models, which generalize the gravitating Abelian Higgs model. The two models differ by whether the U(1) kinetic term is of the Maxwell or Chern-Simons form. We obtain the self-duality conditions for a general two-dimensional target space defined in terms of field dependent "dielectric functions". In particular, we analyze analytically and numerically the equations for the case of O(3) models (two-sphere as target space), and find cosmic string solutions of several kinds as well as gravitating vortices. We classify the solutions by thei…
In this work, we investigate the solutions of vortices in the O(3)-sigma model with the gauge field governed by the Chern-Simons term and subject to a hyperbolic self-dual potential. We show that this model admits both topological and nontopological solitons solutions. By means of numerical analysis, we realize that the topological solutions of the model can be transformed into compacton-like solutions. On the other hand, after modifying the model by the introduction of a dielectric constant, an interesting feature appears; namely, the nontopological solutions can be transformed into kink-like…
We have investigated and verified the existence of stable uncharged Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfeld (BPS) vortices in the framework of an Abelian Maxwell-Higgs model supplemented with CPT-even and Lorentz-violating (LV) terms belonging to the gauge and Higgs sectors of the standard model extension. The analysis is performed in two situations: first, one by considering the Lorentz violation only in the gauge sector and then in both gauge and Higgs sectors. In the first case, it is observed that the model supports vortices somehow equivalent to the ones appearing in a dielectric medium. The Lorent…
We study a Maxwell-$CP(2)$ model coupled to a real scalar field through a dielectric function multiplying the Maxwell term. In such a context, we look for first-order rotationally symmetric solitons by means of the Bogomol'nyi algorithm, i.e. by minimizing the total energy of the effective model. We perform our investigation by choosing an explicit form of the dielectric function. The numerical solutions show regular vortices whose shapes dramatically differ from their canonical counterparts. We can understood such differences as characterizing the existence of an internal structure.
We consider a dielectric medium with an ultraviolet behavior as it follows from the Drude model. Compared with dilute models, this has the advantage that, for large frequencies, two different media behave the same way. As a result one expects the Casimir energy to contain less divergencies than for the dilute media approximation. We show that the Casimir energy of a spherical dielectric ball contains just one divergent term, a volume one, which can be renormalized by introducing a contact term analogous to the volume energy counterterm needed in bag models. PACS: 12.20.Ds, 03.70.+k, 77.22.Ch
We find a sixteen supersymmetric mass-deformed Bagger-Lambert theory with $SO(4)\times SO(4)$ global R-symmetry. The R-charge plays the `non-central' term in the superalgebra. This theory has one symmetric vacuum and two in-equivalent broken sectors of vacua. Each sector of the broken symmetry has the SO(4) geometry. We find the 1/2 BPS domain walls connecting the symmetric phase and any broken phase, and 1/4 BPS supertube-like objects, which may appear as anyonic q-balls in the symmetric phase or vortices in the broken phase. We also discuss mass deformations which reduces the number of super…
