Kink-antikink collision in the supersymmetric $\phi^4$ model

TL;DR

This study explores how fermion fields influence kink-antikink collisions in the supersymmetric $\,\phi^4$ model, revealing complex behaviors including oscillons, resonance windows, and energy exchange mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces the inclusion of fermion back-reaction in kink-antikink collision dynamics within the supersymmetric $\,\phi^4$ model, demonstrating diverse collision outcomes.

Findings

Fermion fields generate forces that alter collision outcomes.

Multiple collision scenarios including oscillons and resonance windows.

Fermions can store and transfer energy during collisions.

Abstract

This paper investigates a model containing $\phi^4$ kinks interacting with fermions. The fermion back-reaction is included in the equations of motion, which affects the kink-antikink collisions. We show that the fermion field generates a force that can be either attractive or repulsive. Moreover, we investigate three different scenarios, which exhibit a wide variety of behaviors including the usual scenarios observed in the $\phi^4$ model as well as the formation of two oscillons, reflection without contact, one-bounce resonance windows, and the creation of kink-antikink pairs. We also find evidence that the fermion field can store part of the energy responsible for the energy exchange mechanism.