= Collective coordinate of a soliton
{title2=$q^a(t)$}
= Collective coordinate
{synonym}
A collective coordinate parametrizes a family of static <classical field-theory solitons>, for example their position or internal orientation. Derivatives with respect to these parameters are <zero modes in field theory> when the family has constant energy. Slowly varying coordinates describe low-energy motion, provided the excluded modes and radiation are negligible; gauge variations must first be removed in a <gauge-theory soliton>.
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