Pseudo-Stable Bubbles

Abstract

The evolution of spherically symmetric unstable scalar field configurations (``bubbles'') is examined for both symmetric (SDWP) and asymmetric (ADWP) double-well potentials. Bubbles with initial static energies $E_0\text{la}{E}_{\mathrm{crit}}$, where $E_{\mathrm{crit}}$ is some critical value, shrink in a time scale determined by their linear dimension, or ``radius''. Bubbles with $E_0\text{ga}{E}_{\mathrm{crit}}$ evolve into time-dependent, localized configurations which are {\it very} long-lived compared to characteristic time-scales in the models examined. The stability of these configurations is investigated and possible applications are briefly discussed.tic time-scales in the models examined. The stability of these configurations is investigated and possible applications are briefly discussed.

Comments: 10 pages, LaTeX (uses revtex 3.0), 4 figures (postscript files of figs.1 and 2 appended starting on line 497), report DART-HEP-93/05