Cosmology of Q-balls

Abstract

Supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model predict the existence of Q-balls, some of which can be entirely stable. Both stable and unstable Q-balls can play an important role in cosmology. In particular, Affleck-Dine baryogenesis can result in a copious production of stable baryonic Q-balls, which can presently exist as a form of dark matter. Formation and decay of unstable Q-balls can also have some important effects on baryogenesis and phase transitions.