Quantum Oscillons are Long-Lived

TL;DR

Quantum oscillons, previously thought to decay rapidly due to quantum effects, can have significantly longer lifetimes if modeled as squeezed coherent states, altering their expected phenomenological relevance.

Contribution

The paper introduces the idea that quantum oscillons modeled as squeezed coherent states have suppressed radiation, extending their lifetime beyond classical predictions.

Findings

Quantum corrections do not necessarily lead to rapid decay.

Squeezed coherent states emit less radiation than coherent states.

Quantum oscillon lifetime is increased by an inverse power of the coupling.

Abstract

As the longest lived transient, oscillons play a critical role in classical field theory simulations of many phenomena. However, beyond the classical approximation, it is well-known that quantum corrections open decay channels through which oscillons radiate rapidly. Therefore it is believed that in the real world, oscillons are too short-lived to be phenomenologically relevant. We observe that previous calculations of the radiated power assume that the oscillon is in a coherent state. We show that a squeezed coherent state, on the other hand, would emit no radiation at leading order in the coupling. This leads us to the conclusion that the instantaneous radiation calculated in the literature corresponds not to the oscillon's decay, but rather to its relaxation from a coherent state to a lower-energy, squeezed coherent state, which then radiates much more slowly. As a result, the lifetime of the quantum oscillon is enhanced by an inverse power of the coupling.