TOPOLOGICAL OBJECTS IN THE O(3) NONLINEAR SIGMA MODEL

Abstract

We study the topological defects in the nonlinear O(3) sigma model in terms of the decomposition of U(1) gauge potential. Time-dependent baby skyrmions are discussed in the (2+1)-dimensional spacetime with the CP1 field. Furthermore, we show that there are three kinds of topological defects–vortex lines, point defects and knot exist in the (3+1)-dimensional model, and their topological charges, locations and motions are determined by the ϕ-mapping topological current theory.