TOPOLOGICAL DEFECTS WITH LONG-RANGE INTERACTIONS

We investigate a modified sine-Gordon equation which possesses soliton solutions with long-range interaction. We introduce a generalized ver sion of the Ginzbug-Landau equation which supports long-range topologi cal defects in D = 1 and D > 1. The interaction force between the defe cts decays so slowly that it is possible to enter the non-extensivity regime. These results can be applied to non-equilibrium systems, patte rn formation and growth models. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.