Generating non-topological solitons via thermal corrections: Higgs balls

Abstract Scalar fields which carry charge can generally form non-topological solitons (Q-balls), if the energy in the extended configuration is less than the energy of an equivalent number of free quanta. For global Q-balls, such solitons exist whenever the potential grows slower than quadratically....

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Main Authors: Lauren Pearce, Graham White, Alexander Kusenko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2022-08-01
Series:Journal of High Energy Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP08(2022)033
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author Lauren Pearce
Graham White
Alexander Kusenko
author_facet Lauren Pearce
Graham White
Alexander Kusenko
author_sort Lauren Pearce
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Scalar fields which carry charge can generally form non-topological solitons (Q-balls), if the energy in the extended configuration is less than the energy of an equivalent number of free quanta. For global Q-balls, such solitons exist whenever the potential grows slower than quadratically. We show that even in the absence of attractive interactions, finite temperature corrections can generate Q-ball solutions, as the coefficient of cubic corrections is generally negative. As an illustration of this, we consider the possibility of constructing Q-balls using the Higgs field. We first show that the finite temperature corrections would enable the existence of Higgs balls if the Standard Model symmetry was ungauged. We then consider gauged Q-balls, following [1], and demonstrate that Higgs self-interactions mediated by the Standard Model gauge bosons are sufficient to prevent the existence of these states in the actual Standard Model. However, these states can exist in a variety of extensions, as we show explicitly through an example.
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spelling doaj.art-5ee077ad24a649939ed86db39ac23e2e2022-12-22T04:01:50ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792022-08-012022813310.1007/JHEP08(2022)033Generating non-topological solitons via thermal corrections: Higgs ballsLauren Pearce0Graham White1Alexander Kusenko2Pennsylvania State University — New KensingtonKavli IPMU (WPI), UTIAS, The University of TokyoKavli IPMU (WPI), UTIAS, The University of TokyoAbstract Scalar fields which carry charge can generally form non-topological solitons (Q-balls), if the energy in the extended configuration is less than the energy of an equivalent number of free quanta. For global Q-balls, such solitons exist whenever the potential grows slower than quadratically. We show that even in the absence of attractive interactions, finite temperature corrections can generate Q-ball solutions, as the coefficient of cubic corrections is generally negative. As an illustration of this, we consider the possibility of constructing Q-balls using the Higgs field. We first show that the finite temperature corrections would enable the existence of Higgs balls if the Standard Model symmetry was ungauged. We then consider gauged Q-balls, following [1], and demonstrate that Higgs self-interactions mediated by the Standard Model gauge bosons are sufficient to prevent the existence of these states in the actual Standard Model. However, these states can exist in a variety of extensions, as we show explicitly through an example.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP08(2022)033Specific BSM PhenomenologyThermal Field TheoryHiggs PropertiesPhase Transitions in the Early Universe
spellingShingle Lauren Pearce
Graham White
Alexander Kusenko
Generating non-topological solitons via thermal corrections: Higgs balls
Journal of High Energy Physics
Specific BSM Phenomenology
Thermal Field Theory
Higgs Properties
Phase Transitions in the Early Universe
title Generating non-topological solitons via thermal corrections: Higgs balls
title_full Generating non-topological solitons via thermal corrections: Higgs balls
title_fullStr Generating non-topological solitons via thermal corrections: Higgs balls
title_full_unstemmed Generating non-topological solitons via thermal corrections: Higgs balls
title_short Generating non-topological solitons via thermal corrections: Higgs balls
title_sort generating non topological solitons via thermal corrections higgs balls
topic Specific BSM Phenomenology
Thermal Field Theory
Higgs Properties
Phase Transitions in the Early Universe
url https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP08(2022)033
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AT alexanderkusenko generatingnontopologicalsolitonsviathermalcorrectionshiggsballs