Creating kinks with quantum mediation

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum mediation enables the creation of kink-antikink pairs in a scalar field during wavepacket scattering, highlighting the conditions that favor their formation.

Contribution

It demonstrates that quantum fields mediating interactions can facilitate kink creation without direct coupling, expanding understanding of topological defect formation.

Findings

Kink-antikink pairs can be produced via quantum mediation.

Low-velocity, high-energy, wide wavepackets favor kink creation.

Quantum mediation enables defect formation without direct interactions.

Abstract

We consider the creation of kink-antikink pairs of a scalar field $\phi$ by the scattering of classical wavepackets of a second scalar field, $\psi$, when there are no direct interactions between $\phi$ and $\psi$. The creation becomes possible only due to a quantum field that interacts with both $\phi$ and $\psi$. We scan parameter space and find it favorable for kink production when the initial wavepackets have large total energy and wide spatial extent but scatter at low velocities.