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Unstable Halo States: One-Halo Simulation

In addition to the qualitatively similar Gaussian-like (approximately bell-curve shaped) solitary waves discussed so far, the governing equation also admits so-called "halo states" comprised of a bright central ball surrounded by a number of spherical shells. In analogy with the inverted pendulum mentioned earlier, these states are found to be unstable to propagation, the smallest amount of noise tickling the solution and causing it to decay into a number of "normal" light bullets. This first simulation depicts the propagation of the one-halo state. We have performed a somewhat complicated mathematical analysis that allows us to understand why the system initially decays into the tube and ball structure. In the final image, the front-most light bullet is seen to exit the computational mesh and reappear at the back wall.

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Email comments to dEdmundson@bigfoot.com.