Global Defects in Field Theory with Applications to Condensed Matter

We review investigations on defects in systems described by real scalar fields in (D,1) space-time dimensions. We first work in one spatial dimension, with models described by one and two real scalar fields, and in higher dimensions. We show that when the potential assumes specific form, there are models which support stable global defects for D arbitrary. We also show how to find first-order differential equations that solve the equations of motion, and how to solve models in D dimensions via soluble problems in D=1. We illustrate the procedure examining specific models and showing how they may be used in applications in different contexts in condensed matter physics, and in other areas.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Bloch Brane

We investigate a system described by two real scalar fields coupled with gravity in (4, 1) dimensions in warped spacetime involving one extra dimension. The results show that the parameter which controls the way the two scalar fields interact induces the appearence of thick brane which engenders internal structure, driving the energy density to localize inside the brane in a very specific way.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures; some misprints corrected, to appear in JHE

Alternate route to soliton solutions in hydrogen-bonded chains

In this paper we offer an alternate route for investigating soliton solutions in hydrogen-bonded chains. This is done by examining a class of systems of two coupled real scalar fields. We show that this route allows investigating several models for hydrogen-bonded chains in a unified manner. We also show how to investigate interesting issues, in particular the one concerning classical or linear stability of solitonic solutions.Comment: 12 pages. Late

Gravity localization on thick branes: a numerical approach

We introduce a numerical procedure to investigate the spectrum of massive modes and its contribution for gravity localization on thick branes. After considering a model with an analytically known Schroedinger potential, we present the method and discuss its applicability. With this procedure we can study several models even when the Schroedinger potential is not known analytically. We discuss both the occurrence of localization of gravity and the correction to the Newtonian potential given by the massive modes.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figure

Topological Twistons in Crystalline Polyethylene

We introduce an alternate model to describe twistons in crystalline polyethylene. The model couples torsional and longitudinal degrees of freedom and appears as an extension of a model that describes only the torsional motion. We find exact solutions that describe stable topological twistons, in good agreement with the torsional and longitudinal interactions in polyethylene.Comment: Latex, 10 pages; some stylistic corrections, to appear in Chemical Physics Letter

First-order framework and generalized global defect solutions

This work deals with defect structures in models described by scalar fields. The investigations focus on generalized models, with the kinetic term modified to allow for a diversity of possibilities. We develop a new framework, in which we search for first-order differential equations which solve the equations of motion. The main issue concerns the introduction of a new function, which works like the superpotential usually considered in the standard situation. We investigate the problem in the general case, with an arbitrary number of fields, and we present several explicit examples in the case of a single real scalar field.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures; version to appear in PL

Brane Structure from a Scalar Field in Warped Spacetime

We deal with scalar field coupled to gravity in five dimensions in warped geometry. We investigate models described by potentials that drive the system to support thick brane solutions that engender internal structure. We find analytical expressions for the brane solutions, and we show that they are all linearly stable.Comment: 10 pages, 7 eps figures; version to be published in JCA