title: Two-dimensional solitons on the surface of magnetic fluids.
abstract: We report an observation of a stable solitonlike structure on the surface of a ferrofluid, generated by a local perturbation in the hysteretic regime of the Rosensweig instability. Unlike other pattern-forming systems with localized 2D structures, magnetic fluids are characterized by energy conservation; hence their mechanism of soliton stabilization is different from the previously discussed gain-loss balance mechanism. The radioscopic measurements of the soliton's surface profile suggest that locking on the wavelength defined by the nonmonotonic dispersion curve is instrumental in its stabilization.
authors.affiliation: Experimentalphysik V, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Barashenkov