KNOTS, BRAIDS AND HEDGEHOGS FROM THE EIKONAL EQUATION

Abstract

The complex eikonal equation in the three space dimensions is considered. We show that apart from the recently found torus knots, this equation can also generate other topological configurations with a nontrivial value of the π2(S2) index: braided open strings as well as hedgehogs. In particular, cylindric strings, i.e. string solutions located on a cylinder with a constant radius are found. Moreover, solutions describing strings lying on an arbitrary surface topologically equivalent to cylinder are presented. We discuss them in the context of the eikonal knots. The physical importance of the results originates in the fact that the eikonal knots have been recently used to approximate the Faddeev–Niemi hopfions.