For a complex scalar field with global invariance and Lagrangian , a Q-ball is a localized phase-rotating configuration with conserved Noether charge . At fixed charge its real profile can minimize
Such solutions require a suitable potential and charge range; the complex nature of a field alone does not ensure existence. A common condition is .
This nonnegative potential has its only vacuum at , since . For the complex kinetic normalization , the small-amplitude mass squared is , whereas . The radial Q-ball equation has a positive localized profile for frequencies , for example in three spatial dimensions. It is a standard non-topological soliton potential: the effective profile potential is negative somewhere, while its quadratic coefficient near zero is positive. The conserved Noether charge, not vacuum winding, supplies the stabilization mechanism.
For a one-dimensional Q-ball, the profile equation gives . Its rest energy is therefore . A Lorentz transformation replaces the rest coordinates by , . The scalar solution has energy and momentum . Substitution and give the displayed values and .
For in space dimensions, write , and . Eliminating the rotation frequency by gives the displayed fixed-charge scaling. The positive-power charge term can balance the gradient and potential terms even for . This evades the static Derrick theorem because the field is time-dependent and the relevant variations preserve its Noether charge.

Articles by others on the same topic (1)

A Q-ball is a theoretical concept in the field of particle physics and cosmology. It refers to a type of non-topological soliton, which is a stable, localized solution of field equations in certain scalar field theories. Q-balls can arise in models that involve scalar fields with a global U(1) symmetry and are characterized by a conserved charge, denoted as \(Q\).