Formation and evolution of kinky vortons

Abstract

We present field theory simulations of a model with ℤ2 × U(1) symmetry in (2+1)-dimensions. This model has two discrete vacua, allowing for domain walls, and also a conserved Noether charge. For initial conditions in which the field is placed randomly in one of the vacua and given a homogeneous background charge, we find that the number of walls does not scale in the standard way. We argue that the Noether charge and current become localized on the walls, forming kinky vortons, (2+1)-dimensional analogues of cosmic vortons. These loops of wall can be long lived, or even stable, depending on their precise characteristics. We suggest that our simulations illustrate a possible mechanism for dynamical frustration of domain wall networks and that cosmic vortons will form naturally in U(1) × U(1) models.