Symmetric Skyrmions

TL;DR

This paper identifies highly symmetric Skyrmion configurations for charges one to nine, using advanced numerical methods, and explores their potential as models for the classical ground states of light nuclei.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed numerical candidates for the global minimum energy Skyrmions up to charge nine, revealing their symmetry and geometric energy minimization patterns.

Findings

Identified symmetric Skyrmions for charges 1-9.

Found Skyrmions fit a geometric energy minimization sequence.

Achieved energy and size calculations within a few percent accuracy.

Abstract

We present candidates for the global minimum energy solitons of charge one to nine in the Skyrme model, generated using sophisticated numerical algorithms. Assuming the Skyrme model accurately represents the low energy limit of QCD, these configurations correspond to the classical nuclear ground states of the light elements. The solitons found are particularly symmetric, for example, the charge seven skyrmion has icosahedral symmetry, and the shapes are shown to fit a remarkable sequence defined by a geometric energy minimization (GEM) rule. We also calculate the energies and sizes to within at least a few percent accuracy. These calculations provide the basis for a future investigation of the low energy vibrational modes of skyrmions and hence the possibility of testing the Skyrme model against experiment.