# Towards Skyrmion Stars: Large Baryon Configurations in the Einstein-Skyrme Model

## TL;DR

This paper explores the Einstein-Skyrme model to identify large baryon configurations that could serve as baryon stars, demonstrating stable multi-baryon bound states using rational maps that recover spherical symmetry at large baryon numbers.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using rational maps to generate gravitating skyrmions, enabling stable multi-baryon states in the Einstein-Skyrme model.

## Key findings

- Stable multi-baryon bound states achieved with rational maps.
- Spherical symmetry recovered as baryon number increases.
- Potential model for baryon stars identified.

## Abstract

We investigate the large baryon number sector of the Einstein-Skyrme model as a possible model for baryon stars. Gravitating hedgehog skyrmions have been investigated previously and the existence of stable solitonic stars excluded due to energy considerations. However, in this paper we demonstrate that by generating gravitating skyrmions using rational maps, we can achieve multi-baryon bound states whilst recovering spherical symmetry in the limit where B becomes large.