Scattering of Nucleons in the Classical Skyrme Model

TL;DR

This paper uses numerical simulations of spinning Skyrmions to model nucleon-nucleon scattering, identifying resonance states and the stable deuteron, and predicting polarization outcomes in right-angle collisions.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical approach to simulate nucleon interactions using classical Skyrmions, revealing resonance states and polarization effects not previously detailed.

Findings

Identification of short-lived resonance states like dineutron/diproton and dibaryon.

Observation of the stable deuteron state in simulations.

Predictions of polarization states in right-angle scattering.

Abstract

Classically spinning B=1 Skyrmions can be regarded as approximations to nucleons with quantised spin. Here, we investigate nucleon-nucleon scattering through numerical collisions of spinning Skyrmions. We identify the dineutron/diproton and dibaryon short-lived resonance states, and also the stable deuteron state. Our simulations lead to predictions for the polarisation states occurring in right angle scattering. Videos of our numerical results are shown at http://www.bristoltheory.org/people/david.foster/skyrmevideos/.