We investigate the dynamics of the kinks that emerge in a one-dimensional scalar field theory with an octic potential containing a quartic minimum and two quadratic minima. We show analytically that kink-antikink and kink-kink pairs interact with a force that scales with the fourth power of the inter-kink distance, and calculate its strength. This is done using two different techniques. The first employs a collective coordinate method to approximately solve the equation of motion for the profile of an accelerating kink. The second is based on modifying the potential to one that is able to support static solutions containing multiple kinks. We show that the two methods give consistent results. All calculations are supported by numerical work that confirms the validity of our results.
In a scalar field theory with a symmetric octic potential having a quartic minimum and two quadratic minima, kink solutions have long-range tails. We calculate the force between two kinks and between a kink and an antikink when their long-range tails overlap. This is a nonlinear problem, solved using an adiabatic ansatz for the accelerating kinks that leads to a modified, first-order Bogomolny equation. We find that the kink-kink force is repulsive and decays with the fourth power of the kink separation. The kink-antikink force is attractive and decays similarly. Remarkably, the kink-kink repu…
In a scalar field theory that has a symmetric octic potential with a quartic minimum and two quadratic minima, kink and mirror kink solutions have long-range tails. We calculate the force between these kinks when their long-range tails overlap. This is a nonlinear problem, solved using an adiabatic ansatz for the accelerating kinks that leads to a modified, first-order Bogomolny equation. We find the force is repulsive and decays with the fourth power of the kink separation.
The motion of a one-dimensional kink and its energy losses are considered as a model of interaction of nontrivial topological field configurations with external fields.
The interaction between kink and radiation in nonlinear one-dimensional real scalar field is investigated. The process of discrete vibrational mode excitation in $ϕ^4$ model is considered. The role of this oscillations in creation of kink and antikink is discussed. Numerical results are presented as well as some attempts of analytical explanations. An intriguing fractal structure in parameter space dividing regions with creation and without is also presented.
Kink-antikink scattering in the $ϕ^4$ model is investigated in the limit when the static inter-soliton force vanishes. We observe the formation of spectral walls and, further, identify a new phenomenon, the vacuum wall, whose existence gives rise to a bouncing structure for the annihilating solitons. Furthermore, we discover higher order spectral walls, i.e., spectral walls which form when higher harmonics enter the continuous spectrum. These higher order spectral walls not only deform the soliton trajectories, they also can be observed easily as very intense radiation bursts.
We calculate the quantum vacuum interaction energy between two kinks of the sine-Gordon equation. Using the $TGTG$--formula, the problem is reduced to the known formulas for quantum fluctuations in the background of a single kink. This interaction induces an attractive force between the kinks in parallel to the Casimir force between conducting mirrors.
We consider the interaction of solitons in a biharmonic, beam model analogue of the well-studied $ϕ^4$ Klein-Gordon theory. Specifically, we calculate the force between a well separated kink and antikink. Knowing their accelerations as a function of separation, we can determine their motion using a simple ODE. There is good agreement between this asymptotic analysis and numerical computation. Importantly, we find the force has an exponentially-decaying oscillatory behaviour (unlike the monotonically attractive interaction in the Klein-Gordon case). Corresponding to the zeros of the force, we p…
In this paper, we have studied the kink and antikink solutions in several neutral scalar models in 1+1 dimension. We follow the standard approach to write down the leading order and the second order force between long distance separated kink and antikink. The leading order force is proportional to exponential decay with respect to the distance between the two nearest kinks or antikinks. The second order force have a similar behavior with the larger decay factor, namely $3\over 2$. We make use of these properties to construct the kink lattice. The dynamics of the kink lattice with leading order…
We answer the question: If a vacuum sector Hamiltonian is regularized by an energy cutoff, how is the one-kink sector Hamiltonian regularized? We find that it is not regularized by an energy cutoff, indeed normal modes of all energies are present in the kink Hamiltonian, but rather the decomposition of the field into normal mode operators yields coefficients which lie on a constrained surface that forces them to become small for energies above the cutoff. This explains the old observation that an energy cutoff of the kink Hamiltonian leads to an incorrect one-loop kink mass. To arrive at our c…
We study two-dimensional SQED viewed as the world-volume theory of a D-string in the presence of D5-branes with non-zero background fields that induce attractive forces between the branes. In various approximations, the low-energy dynamics is given by a hyperKahler, or hyperKahler with torsion, massive sigma-model. We demonstrate the existence of kink solutions corresponding to the string interpolating between different D5-branes. Bound states of the D-string with fundamental strings are identified with Q-kinks which, in turn, are identified with dyonic instanton strings on the D5-brane world-…
A Rayleigh-Schrödinger type of perturbation scheme is employed to study weakly interacting kinks and domain walls formed from two different real scalar fields $χ$ and $φ$. An interaction potential $% V_{1}(χ,φ)$ is chosen which vanishes in a vacuum state of either field. Approximate first order corrections for the fields are found, which are associated with scalar field condensates inhabiting the zeroth order topological solitons. The model considered here presents several new and interesting features. These include (1) a condensate of \textit{each} kink field inhabits the \textit{other} kink,…
In this paper quantum effects are investigated in a very special two-scalar field model having a moduli space of BPS topological defects. In a $(1+1)$-dimensional space-time the defects are classically degenerate in mass kinks, but in $(3+1)$ dimensions the kinks become BPS domain walls, all of them sharing the same surface tension at the classical level. The heat kernel/zeta function regularization method will be used to control the divergences induced by the quantum kink and domain wall fluctuations. A generalization of the Gilkey-DeWitt-Avramidi heat kernel expansion will be developed in or…
We study kink-antikink scattering in a one-parameter variant of the $ϕ^4$ theory where the model parameter controls the static intersoliton force. We interpolate between the limit of no static force (BPS limit) and the regime where the static interaction is small (non-BPS). This allows us to study the impact of the strength of the intersoliton static force on the soliton dynamics. In particular, we analyze how the transition of a bound mode through the mass threshold affects the soliton dynamics in a generic process, i.e., when a static intersoliton force shows up. We show that the thin, preci…
We study a scalar field model in a two dimensional space-time with a generalized $ϕ^4_G$ potential which has four minima, obtaining novel kink solutions with well defined properties although the potential is non-analytical at the origin. The model contains a control parameter $δ$ that breaks the degeneracy of the potential minima, giving rise to two different phases for the system. The $δ<0$ phases do not possess solitary wave solutions. At the transition point $δ=0$ all the potential minima are degenerate and three different kink solutions result. As the transition to the $δ>0$ phase takes pl…
This paper investigates a model containing $ϕ^4$ kinks interacting with fermions. The fermion back-reaction is included in the equations of motion, which affects the kink-antikink collisions. We show that the fermion field generates a force that can be either attractive or repulsive. Moreover, we investigate three different scenarios, which exhibit a wide variety of behaviors including the usual scenarios observed in the $ϕ^4$ model as well as the formation of two oscillons, reflection without contact, one-bounce resonance windows, and the creation of kink-antikink pairs. We also find evidence…
In this Letter, we address the {long-range interaction} between kinks and antikinks, as well as kinks and kinks, in $φ^{2n+4}$ field theories for $n>1$. The kink-antikink interaction is generically attractive, while the kink-kink interaction is generically repulsive. We find that the force of interaction decays with the $(\frac{2n}{n-1})$th power of their separation, and we identify the general prefactor for {\it arbitrary} $n$. Importantly, we test the resulting mathematical prediction with detailed numerical simulations of the dynamic field equation, and obtain good agreement between theory …
We present several one-parameter family of higher order field theory models some of which admit explicit kink solutions with an exponential tail while others admit explicit kink solutions with a power-law tail. Various properties of these families of kink solutions are examined in detail. In particular for models harboring kink solutions with a power-law tail, we show that there is no gap between the zero mode and the beginning of the continuum in the kink stability potential. Further, by applying the recent Manton formalism, we provide estimates for the kink-kink and antikink-kink acceleratio…
We explore a class of $ϕ^{4n}$ models with kink and antikink solutions that have long-range tails on both sides, specializing to the cases with $n=2$ and $n=3$. A recently developed method of an accelerating kink ansatz is used to estimate the force between the kink and the antikink. We use state-of-the-art numerical methods to initialize the system in a kink-antikink configuration with a finite initial velocity and to evolve the system according to the equations of motion. Among these methods, we propose a computationally efficient way to initialize the velocity field of the system. Interesti…
In this paper we examine the scattering processes among the members of a rich family of kinks which arise in a (1+1)-dimensional relativistic two scalar field theory. These kinks carry two different topological charges that determine the mutual interactions between the basic energy lumps (extended particles) described by these topological defects. Processes like topological charge exchange, kink-antikink bound state formation or kink repulsion emerge depending on the charges of the scattered particles. Two-bounce resonant windows have been found in the antikink-kink scattering processes, but n…
In this thesis, we study interactions between topological defects in two-dimensional spacetimes. These defects are called kinks. They are solutions of scalar field theories with localized energy which propagate without losing its shape. In order to understand the resonance phenomenon exhibited by those models, we built a toy model where the kink's vibrational mode turns into a quasinormal mode. This causes the suppression of resonance windows and, consequently, its fractal structure is lost. Considering a higher order polynomial as the scalar field potential, we find kinks with long-range tail…
In this paper kink scattering processes are investigated in the Montonen-Sarker-Trullinger-Bishop model. The MSTB model is in fact a one-parametric family of relativistic scalar field theories living in a one-time one-space Minkowski space-time which encompasses two coupled scalar fields. Between the static solutions of the model two kinds of topological kinks are distinguished in a precise range of the family parameter. In that regime there exists one unstable kink exhibiting only one non-null component of the scalar field. Another type of topological kink solutions, stable in this case, incl…
A (1+1)-dimensional quantum field theory with a degenerate vacuum (in infinite volume) can contain particles, known as kinks, which interpolate between different vacua and have nontrivial restrictions on their multi-particle Hilbert space. Assuming such a theory to be integrable, we show how to calculate the multi-kink energy levels in finite volume given its factorizable $S$-matrix. In massive theories this can be done exactly up to contributions due to off-shell and tunneling effects that fall off exponentially with volume. As a first application we compare our analytical predictions for the…
One-loop mass shifts to the classical masses of stable kinks arising in a massive non-linear ${\mathbb S}^2$-sigma model are computed. Ultraviolet divergences are controlled using the heat kernel/zeta function regularization method. A comparison between the results achieved from exact and high-temperature asymptotic heat traces is analyzed in depth.
We present a numerical study of the process of the kink-antikink collisions in the coupled one-dimensional two-component $ϕ^4$ model. Our results reveal two different soliton solutions which represent double kink configuration and kink-non-topological soliton (lump) bound state. Collision of these solitons leads to very reach resonance structure which is related to reversible energy exchange between the kinks, non-topological solitons and the internal vibrational modes. Various channels of the collisions are discussed, it is shown there is a new type of self-similar fractal structure which app…
In this paper the scattering between the non-topological kinks arising in a family of two-component scalar field theory models is analyzed. A winding charge is carried by these defects. As a consequence, two different classes of kink scattering processes emerge: (1) collisions between kinks that carry the same winding number and (2) scattering events between kinks with opposite winding number. The variety of scattering channels is very rich and it strongly depends on the collision velocity and the model parameter. For the first type of events, four distinct scattering channels are found: \text…
The asymmetric scattering between wobblers and kinks in the standard $ϕ^4$ model is numerically investigated in two different scenarios. First, the collision between wobblers with opposite phase is analyzed. Here, a destructive interference between the shape modes of the colliding wobblers takes place at the impact time. The second scenario involves the scattering between a wobbler and an (unexcited) kink. In this case the energy transfer from the wobbler to the kink can be examined. The dependence of the final velocities and wobbling amplitudes of the scattered wobblers on the collision veloc…
In this paper the scattering between a wobbling kink and a wobbling antikink in the standard $ϕ^4$ model is numerically investigated. The dependence of the final velocities, wobbling amplitudes and frequencies of the scattered kinks on the collision velocity and on the initial wobbling amplitude is discussed. The fractal structure becomes more intricate due to the emergence of new resonance windows and the splitting of those arising in the non-excited kink scattering. Outside this phase the final wobbling amplitude exhibits a linear dependence of the collision velocity whereas the final freque…
In this paper, kink scattering in the dimensional reduction of the bosonic sector of a one-parameter family of generalized Wess-Zumino models with three vacuum points is discussed. The value of the model parameter determines the specific location of the vacua. The influence of the vacuum arrangements (evolving from three collinear vacua to three vacua placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle) on the kink scattering is investigated. Two different regimes can be distinguished: in the first one, two symmetric BPS kinks/antikinks arise whereas in the second one a new different BPS kink/an…
The radiation from oscillating kink in (1+1) dimensional relativistic $ϕ^4$ model is considered. Both analytical and numerical approaches are presented and the comparison between these methods is discussed. Acceleration of the kink in external radiation is calculated and numerical results are also presented.
There are $N-1$ classes of kink solutions in $SU(N)\times Z_2$. We show how interactions between various kinks depend on the classes of individual kinks as well as on their orientations with respect to each other in the internal space. In particular, we find that the attractive or repulsive nature of the interaction depends on the trace of the product of charges of the two kinks. We calculate the interaction potential for all combinations of kinks and antikinks in $SU(5)\times Z_2$ and study their collisions. The outcome of kink-antikink collisions, as expected from previous studies, is sensit…
We provide examples of a large class of one dimensional higher order field theories with kink solutions which asymptotically have a power-law tail either at one end or at both ends. We provide analytic solutions for the kinks in a few cases but mostly provide implicit solutions. We also provide examples of a family of potentials with two kinks, both of which have power law tails either at both ends or at one end. In addition, we show that for kinks with a power law tail at one end or both the ends, there is no gap between the zero mode and the continuum of the corresponding stability equation.…
The symmetric dynamics of two kinks and one antikink in classical (1+1)-dimensional $ϕ^4$ theory is investigated. Gradient flow is used to construct a collective coordinate model of the system. The relationship between the discrete vibrational mode of a single kink, and the process of kink-antikink pair production is explored.
In this paper the study of collisions between kinks arising in the family of MSTB models is addressed. Phenomena such as elastic kink reflection, mutual annihilation, kink-antikink transmutation and inelastic reflection are found and depend on the impact velocity.
The q-state Potts field theory with $2\le q\le 4$ in the low-temperature phase is considered in presence of a weak magnetic field h. In absence of the magnetic field, the theory is integrable, but not free at q>2: its elementary excitations - the kinks - interact at small distances, and their interaction can be characterized by the factorizable scattering matrix which was found by Chim and Zamolodchikov. The magnetic field induces the long-range attraction between kinks causing their confinement into the bound-states. We calculate the masses of the two-kink bound states in the leading order in…
We study the scattering of the $φ^8$ kinks off each other, namely, we consider those $φ^8$ kinks that have power-law asymptotics. The slow power-law fall-off leads to a long-range interaction between the kink and the antikink. We investigate how the scattering scenarios depend on the initial velocities of the colliding kinks. In particular, we observe the `escape windows' -- the escape of the kinks after two or more collisions, explained by the resonant energy exchange between the translational and vibrational modes. In order to elucidate this phenomenon, we also analyze the excitation spectra…
Guided by a study of kink-antikink scattering in the Gross-Neveu model and other known solutions of the Hartree-Fock approach of a particularly simple type, we demonstrate a quantitative relationship between three different problems: Quantized 1+1-dimensional fermions in the large N limit, solitons of the classical sinh-Gordon equation and classical strings moving in 3-dimensional anti de Sitter space. Aside from throwing light on the relationship between quantum field theory and classical physics, this points to the full solvability of the dynamical N-kink-antikink problem in the Gross-Neveu …
In this work, we investigate collision processes and their mechanism among chiral and nonchiral kinks in the coupled double-field $ϕ^4$ model and show that the kink collisions follow the $Z_4$ abelian group operation. Unlike the single-field $ϕ^4$ model, this model has twelve kinks, which are classified into chiral and nonchiral kinks depending on their topological chiral charges. This enriches the variety of the collision processes. From the numerical simulation, we observe three kinds of collisions depending on the initial configuration and initial velocities of colliding kinks. During a col…
We study excitations of solitary waves -- the kinks -- in scalar models with degree eight polynomial self-interaction in (1+1) dimensions. We perform numerical studies of scattering of two kinks with an exponential asymptotic off each other and analyse the occurring resonance phenomena. We connect these phenomena to the energy exchange between the translational and the vibrational modes of the colliding kinks. We also point out that the interaction of two kinks with power-law asymptotic can lead to a long-range interaction between the two kinks.
We studied the kink-antikink collision process for the "double sine-Gordon" (DSG) equation in 1+1 dimensions at different values of the potential parameter $R>0$. For small values of $R$ we discuss the problem of resonance frequencies. We give qualitative explanation of the frequency shift in comparison with the frequency of the discrete level in the potential well of isolated kink. We show that in this region of the parameter $R$ the effective long-range interaction between kink and antikink takes place.
