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advanced_notions:quantum_field_theory:solitons [2018/03/26 11:16] jakobadmin [Student] |
advanced_notions:quantum_field_theory:solitons [2018/04/02 15:10] jakobadmin [Why is it interesting?] |
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<tabbox Why is it interesting?> | <tabbox Why is it interesting?> | ||
- | [[advanced_tools:feynman_diagrams|Feynman diagrams]] do not describe everything that can happen in a [[theories:quantum_theory:quantum_field_theory|quantum field theory]]. There can be classical solutions of the field equations that describe larger lumps of field excitations that aren't describable by Feynman diagrams. | + | [[advanced_tools:feynman_diagrams|Feynman diagrams]] do not describe everything that can happen in a [[theories:quantum_field_theory|quantum field theory]]. There can be classical solutions of the field equations that describe larger lumps of field excitations that aren't describable by Feynman diagrams. |
Classical solutions of the field equations with finite energy are called solitons. | Classical solutions of the field equations with finite energy are called solitons. | ||
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In addition, there is an [[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/physics/2011/12/beautiful-losers-kelvins-vortex-atoms/|old dream]] that all elementary particles could be explained as topological solitons. (There are lots of problems with this idea, but at least, [[https://plus.google.com/+UrsSchreiber/posts/Z2LfHsyxgR8|instantons come somewhat close]].) | In addition, there is an [[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/physics/2011/12/beautiful-losers-kelvins-vortex-atoms/|old dream]] that all elementary particles could be explained as topological solitons. (There are lots of problems with this idea, but at least, [[https://plus.google.com/+UrsSchreiber/posts/Z2LfHsyxgR8|instantons come somewhat close]].) | ||
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+ | While solitons are interesting but rare in particle physics, they are found frequently in condensed matter physics. | ||
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