Helical buckling of Skyrme-Faddeev solitons

TL;DR

This paper investigates how solitons in the Skyrme-Faddeev model deform into helical shapes when the spatial dimension is compactified, supporting a simpler elastic rod model for their behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates the buckling transition of Skyrme-Faddeev solitons on R^2xS^1, linking complex field theory solutions to elastic rod models.

Findings

Solitons undergo buckling transitions as S^1 circumference varies

Results support elastic rod approximation for soliton behavior

Provides insight into soliton deformation mechanisms

Abstract

Solitons in the Skyrme-Faddeev model on R^2xS^1 are shown to undergo buckling transitions as the circumference of the S^1 is varied. These results support a recent conjecture that solitons in this field theory are well-described by a much simpler model of elastic rods.