General Introduction:

Solitons first discovered by John Scott Russell has rapidly found applications in various fields of Physics, Bio-Physics, Engineering., Data Communications. Hardly any field has been left untouched in the short span of forty years from its discovery. This special issue is therefore to mark the growing importance of this field and to put together the works of leading researchers in the area in one place for later reference. Solitons and applications based on this concept may revolutionize our way of living.

Aims:

The aim of the special issue on Soliton is to bring together under one umbrella a wide variety of work on Solitons. Such a special issue would indeed be goldmine for the budding researcher in this field as well as a seasoned researcher who can see how researcher in other areas are working and methodologies used by them. Further we have reached the take off point where the practical applications of Solitons will now start to come. For example in the medical field Alzheimer’s disease has been found to be due to collective avalanche of neurons. This may be interpreted as a Soliton triggered in the neural system of the brain by a massive disturbance (typically a brain stroke). Further, one of the principal features of Solitons is that they can propagate without loss of energy for long distances. It has therefore been suggested that Solitons should propagate in the power lines thereby minimizing energy loss due to current dissipation. Solitons have been observed as waves in the sea. The question is why we cannot create such waves via oscillators in the air and have vehicles ride over them in the same way a surfer rides the waves in the oceans.

Scope:

The proposed issue on Solitons will have two components: Theory and Applications. The common theme must be Solitons.