Deformed defects

Abstract

We introduce a method to obtain deformed defects starting from a given scalar field theory which possesses defect solutions. The procedure allows the construction of infinitely many new theories that support defect solutions, analytically expressed in terms of the defects of the original theory. The method is general, valid for both topological and nontopological defects, and we show how it extends to quantum mechanics and how it works when the scalar field couples to fermions. We illustrate the general procedure with several examples, which support kinklike or lumplike defects.