solitons

Solitons are special waves that maintain their shape while traveling through a medium, such as water or optical fibers. Unlike typical waves that spread out and diminish over time, solitons are stable and can pass through each other without changing form. They occur when nonlinear effects (which tend to distort waves) are balanced by dispersive effects (which spread waves out), creating a self-sustaining pulse. This unique behavior makes solitons valuable in applications like long-distance communication and understanding various physical phenomena.