Skyrmions and Faddeev-Hopf Solitons

Abstract

This paper describes a natural one-parameter family of generalized Skyrme systems, which includes the usual SU(2) Skyrme model and the Skyrme-Faddeev system. Ordinary Skyrmions resemble polyhedral shells, whereas the Hopf-type solutions of the Skyrme-Faddeev model look like closed loops, possibly linked or knotted. By looking at the minimal-energy solutions in various topological classes, and for various values of the parameter, we see how the polyhedral Skyrmions deform into loop-like Hopf Skyrmions.

9 pages, includes 2 eps figures. Typo corrected, reference added, to appear in Phys Rev D

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Stationary ring solitons in field theory - knots and vortons
• Toroidal Solitons in Nicole-type Models
• Skyrmions and Hopfions in 3D Frustrated Magnets
• Revisiting the Faddeev-Skyrme Model and Hopf Solitons
• Linking number of vortices as baryon number
• Generalized Skyrme Crystals