Dirichlet Topological Defects

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new class of topological defects called Dirichlet topological defects, where solitonic solutions can terminate on other defects, drawing an analogy with D-branes in string theory, in scalar field theories with symmetries.

Contribution

It proposes the concept of Dirichlet topological defects allowing defects to end on other defects, expanding the understanding of solitonic solutions in scalar field theories.

Findings

Defines Dirichlet topological defects in scalar field theories.

Describes configurations like walls ending on walls, strings on walls, and strings on strings.

Establishes an analogy with D-branes in string theory.

Abstract

We propose a class of field theories featuring solitonic solutions in which topological defects can end when they intersect other defects of equal or higher dimensionality. Such configurations may be termed ``Dirichlet topological defects'', in analogy with the D-branes of string theory. Our discussion focuses on defects in scalar field theories with either gauge or global symmetries, in (3+1) dimensions; the types of defects considered include walls ending on walls, strings on walls, and strings on strings.