Solitons, links and knots
Nov, 199822 pages
Published in:
- Proc.Roy.Soc.Lond.A 455 (1999) 4305-4331
e-Print:
- hep-th/9811077 [hep-th]
Report number:
- UKC-IMS-98-34,
- DAMTP-1998-110
View in:
Citations per year
Abstract:
Using numerical simulations of the full nonlinear equations of motion we investigate topological solitons of a modified O(3) sigma model in three space dimensions, in which the solitons are stabilized by the Hopf charge. We find that for solitons up to charge five the solutions have the structure of closed strings, which become increasingly twisted as the charge increases. However, for higher charge the solutions are more exotic and comprise linked loops and knots. We discuss the structure and formation of these solitons and demonstrate that the key property responsible for producing such a rich variety of solitons is that of string reconnection.- sigma model: nonlinear
- symmetry: O(3)
- field theory: action
- field equations: soliton
- knot theory
- energy
- numerical calculations
References(18)
Figures(0)