  We propose to study the non-equilibrium features of heavy-ion collisions by
following the evolution of an initial state with a large number of quanta with
a distribution around a momentum |\vec k_0| corresponding to a thin spherical
shell in momentum space, a `tsunami'. An O(N); ({\vec \Phi}^2)^2 model field
theory in the large N limit is used as a framework to study the
non-perturbative aspects of the non-equilibrium dynamics including a
resummation of the effects of the medium (the initial particle distribution).
In a theory where the symmetry is spontaneously broken in the absence of the
medium, when the initial number of particles per correlation volume is chosen
to be larger than a critical value the medium effects can restore the symmetry
of the initial state. We show that if one begins with such a symmetry-restored,
non-thermal, initial state, non-perturbative effects automatically induce
spinodal instabilities leading to a dynamical breaking of the symmetry. As a
result there is explosive particle production and a redistribution of the
particles towards low momentum due to the nonlinearity of the dynamics. The
asymptotic behavior displays the onset of Bose condensation of pions and the
equation of state at long times is that of an ultrarelativistic gas although
the momentum distribution is non-thermal.
