(Meta)stable closed vortices in 3+1 dimensional gauge theories with an extended Higgs sector - art. no. 085020

In gauge theories with an extended Higgs sector the classical equations of motion can have solutions that describe stable, closed finite energy vortic es. Such vortices separate two disjointed Higgs vacua, with one of the vacu a embedded in the other in a manner that forms a topologically nontrivial k not. The knottedness stabilizes the vortex against shrinkage in 3+1 dimensi onal space time. But in a world with extra large dimensions we expect the c onfiguration to decay by unknotting. As an example, we consider the semiloc al theta(W)-->pi/2 limit of the Weinberg-Salam model. We present numerical evidence for the existence of a stable closed vortex, twisted into a toroid al configuration around a circular Higgs vacuum at its core.