On defects in affine Toda field theory

Abstract

This thesis outlines methods for generating new integrable defects in affine Toda field theory. These methods are grounded in the hypothesis that defects have a particle-like classification with as many species of fundamental defect existing in a particular affine Toda theory as there are species of soliton. The methods employed are:
1. Defect fusing rules, linking different species of defect in the same theory. Defect fusing rules are used in this thesis to find transmission matrices for a new, species 2, defect in a^(1)_3.
2. Folding, linking defects in simply laced theories to defects in non-simply laced theories. Folding is used in this thesis to find defects in the c^(1)_n, d^(2)_n and a^(2)_2n affine Toda field theories.