Dynamics of relativistic solitons

Relativistic solitons are self-trapped, finite-sized, electromagnetic waves of relativistic intensity that propagate without diffraction spreading. They have been predicted theoretically within the relativistic fluid approximation, and have been observed in multi-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of laser pulse interaction with the plasma. Solitons were observed in laser irradiated plasmas with the proton imaging technique as well. This paper reviews many theoretical results on relativistic solitons in electron-ion plasmas.