Stability of Q-balls and Catastrophe

We propose a practical method for analyzing stability of Q-balls for the whole parameter space, which includes the intermediate region between the thin-wall limit and thick-wall limit as well as Q-bubbles (Q-balls in false vacuum), using the catastrophe theory. We apply our method to the two concrete models, $V_3=m^2\phi^2/2-\mu\phi^3+\lambda\phi^4$ and $V_4=m^2\phi^2/2-\lambda\phi^4+\phi^6/M^2$. We find that $V_3$ and $V_4$ Models fall into {\it fold catastrophe} and {\it cusp catastrophe}, respectively, and their stability structures are quite different from each other.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, some discussions and references added, to apear in Prog. Theor. Phy

What happens to Q-balls if QQ is so large?

In the system of a gravitating Q-ball, there is a maximum charge $Q_{{\rm max}}$ inevitably, while in flat spacetime there is no upper bound on $Q$ in typical models such as the Affleck-Dine model. Theoretically the charge $Q$ is a free parameter, and phenomenologically it could increase by charge accumulation. We address a question of what happens to Q-balls if $Q$ is close to $Q_{{\rm max}}$. First, without specifying a model, we show analytically that inflation cannot take place in the core of a Q-ball, contrary to the claim of previous work. Next, for the Affleck-Dine model, we analyze perturbation of equilibrium solutions with $Q\approx Q_{{\rm max}}$ by numerical analysis of dynamical field equations. We find that the extremal solution with $Q=Q_{{\rm max}}$ and unstable solutions around it are "critical solutions", which means the threshold of black-hole formation.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, results for large $\kappa$ added, to appear in PR

How does gravity save or kill Q-balls?

We explore stability of gravitating Q-balls with potential $V_4(\phi)={m^2\over2}\phi^2-\lambda\phi^4+\frac{\phi^6}{M^2}$ via catastrophe theory, as an extension of our previous work on Q-balls with potential $V_3(\phi)={m^2\over2}\phi^2-\mu\phi^3+\lambda\phi^4$. In flat spacetime Q-balls with $V_4$ in the thick-wall limit are unstable and there is a minimum charge $Q_{{\rm min}}$, where Q-balls with $Q<Q_{{\rm min}}$ are nonexistent. If we take self-gravity into account, on the other hand, there exist stable Q-balls with arbitrarily small charge, no matter how weak gravity is. That is, gravity saves Q-balls with small charge. We also show how stability of Q-balls changes as gravity becomes strong.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Causal Structure of an Inflating Magnetic Monopole

We clarify the causal structure of an inflating magnetic monopole. The spacetime diagram shows explicitly that this model is free from ``graceful exit'' problem, while the monopole itself undergoes ``eternal inflation''. We also discuss general nature of inflationary spacetimes.Comment: 6 pages (text), revtex, 5 ps figures separate, to appear in Phys Rev D, Fig 3 and discussions are modifie