Non Topological Solitons In Astrophysics And Cosmology

An introduction to integrable and non-integrable scalar field models, with topological and non-topological soliton solutions. Focusing on both topological and non-topological solitons, this book brings together discussion of solitary waves and construction of soliton solutions and provides a discussion of solitons using simple model examples.

Successful modeling of quantum chromodynamics with a relativistic quark-soliton field theory has been developed over the past decade. As introduced by R Freidberg and T D Lee, the foundation of the model involves the chromodielectric properties of the physical vacuum, which yield absolute color confinement. The model allows for the consistent calculation of the dynamics of hadrons and hadronic reactions. The book summarizes and expands upon the extensive literature on the subject, concentrating on the Friedberg-Lee model and variations thereof. New results and future directions are included. Theory, mathematical methods and numerical results are emphasized. Contents:IntroductionThe ModelsThe Mean Field Approximation: Classical and QuantalProjection and BoostThe Generator Coordinate MethodOne Gluon ExchangeParameter Sets and ResultsA Chirally-Invariant Chromo-Dielectric Soliton ModelQuantum Corrections and RenormalizationMany Bag ProblemRestrospect & ProspectsAppendix: Numerical Methods Readership: High energy and nuclear physicists.

Nontopological solitons are stable field configurations which may be formed in a primordial phase transition. Their cosmic evolution is studied, and the possibility that such objects could contribute significantly to the energy density of the Universe is examined. As the Universe cools, initially all but the largest lumps evaporate into free particles; those which survive may subsequently enter a brief accretion phase before they freeze out at a final size. Although the minimum critical charges which survive depend on particle masses and couplings, researchers develop an analysis which applies to a wide class of models. In most cases, solitons of moderate size survive the evaporation process only if there is a significant charge asymmetry or if they form at a temperature well below their binding energy per charge. Frieman, Joshua A. and Olinto, Angela V. and Gleiser, Marcelo and Alcock, Charles Unspecified Center W-7405-ENG-48; NSF PHY-82-17853; NAGW-1340...

Currents in Astrophysics and Cosmology focuses primarily on cosmic-ray physics, X-ray, gamma-ray and neutrino astronomy and cosmology, the main research areas of Professor Maurice M. Shapiro, whose 75th birthday the collection of articles celebrates. Professor Shapiro is internationally distinguished for his contributions to the development of cosmic-ray physics. Each chapter is written by a leading scientist in the field. The scope extends from the inner solar system to distant radio galaxies. The book is ideal for graduate students and scientists working in cosmic-ray astrophysics. This valuable survey will be welcomed not only for its articles by world-renowned scientists but also for its coverage of many topics in high-energy astrophysics, the combination of which makes the book unique.

Written primarily for researchers and graduate students who are new in this emerging field, this book develops the necessary tools so that readers can follow the latest advances in this subject. Readers are first guided to examine the basic informations on nucleon-nucleon collisions and the use of the nucleus as an arena to study the interaction of one nucleon with another. A good survey of the relation between nucleon-nucleon and nucleus-nucleus collisions provides the proper comparison to study phenomena involving the more exotic quark-gluon plasma. Properties of the quark-gluon plasma and signatures for its detection are discussed to aid future searches and exploration for this exotic matter. Recent experimental findings are summarised.

The thermal creation, fusion, evaporation, and destruction of non-topological solitons (NTS) after a phase transition in the early universe is considered. By defining and following NTS statistical equilibrium and departures from it, and depending on particle physics parameters, one of three possible scenarios occurs. If reaction rates are high enough, a period of equilibrium occurs and relic abundances are determined by the freeze-out temperature. Equilibrium first drives most NTS's into their constituents (free phi particles) and then causes rapid fusion into large NTS's. If freeze-out occurs during the first phase, the NTS's are almost entirely destroyed, while if it occurs during the second phase, solitosynthesis occurs and NTS's may be cosmically relevant. For slow reaction rates the NTS's are born frozen out and have the abundance determined by the phase transition. Analytic approximations for determining the abundances are developed, and tested by numerically integrating a reaction network in an expanding universe. Unfortunately, for most of the parameter space considered, solito-destruction/evaporation occurs. Griest, Kim and Kolb, Edward W. Unspecified Center NAGW-1340...