Physics – High Energy Physics – High Energy Physics - Theory
Scientific paper
2002-08-03
Physics
High Energy Physics
High Energy Physics - Theory
This submission is now superceded by a thoroughly revised version with changed title, as hep-th/0405140 and published as Phys.
Scientific paper
Topological objects resulting from symmetry breakdown may be either stable or metastable depending on the pattern of symmetry breaking. However, if they trap zero-energy modes of fermions, and in the process acquire non-integer fermionic charge, the metastable configurations also get stabilized. In the case of Dirac fermions the spectrum of the number operator shifts by 1/2. In the case of majorana fermions it becomes useful to assign negative values of fermion number to a finite number of states occupying the zero-energy level, constituting a \textit{majorana pond}. We determine the parities of these states and prove a superselection rule. Thus decay of objects with half-integer fermion number is not possible in isolation or by scattering with ordinary particles. The result has important bearing on cosmology as well as condensed matter physics.
Sahu Narendra
Yajnik Urjit A.
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