Pseudostable bubbles

Abstract

The evolution of spherically symmetric unstable scalar field configurations ("bubbles") is examined for both symmetric and asymmetric double-well potentials. Bubbles with initial static energies ${E}_{0}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{E}_{\mathrm{crit}}$, where ${E}_{\mathrm{crit}}$ is some critical value, shrink in a time scale determined by their linear dimension or "radius." Bubbles with ${E}_{0}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{E}_{\mathrm{crit}}$ evolve into time-dependent, localized configurations which are 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.