Scalar field theories with particular $U(1)$-symmetric potentials contain nontopological soliton solutions called Q-balls. Promoting the $U(1)$ to a gauge symmetry leads to the more complicated situation of gauged Q-balls. The soliton solutions to the resulting set of nonlinear differential equations have markedly different properties, such as a maximal possible size and charge. Despite these differences, we discover a relation that allows one to extract the properties of gauged Q-balls (such as the radius, charge, and energy) from the more easily obtained properties of global Q-balls. These results provide a new guide to understanding gauged Q-balls as well as providing simple and accurate analytical characterization of the Q-ball properties.

• Received 13 April 2021
• Accepted 6 May 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.103.116004

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Published by the American Physical Society