SU(N) quantum Hall skyrmions

We have investigated skyrmions in N-component quantum Hall (QH) systems. We find that SU(N) skyrmions are the lowest-energy charged excitations for fi lling factors v = 1,2,...,N-1 for small enough sym metry breaking terms. N> 2 skyrmions can be realized in Si QH systems based on the (110) or (111) in terfaces of Si, or perhaps in Si (100) systems, where the spin and valley i sospin together provide an SU(4)-symmetry, or in multilayer QH systems. We also present Hartree-Fock results for a phenomenological easy-axis SU(2)bre aking model appropriate to valley degeneracy. [S0163-1829(99)07319-1].