SOLITON SCATTERING IN THE O(3) MODEL ON A TORUS

Using numerical simulations, the stability and scattering properties o f the O(3) model on a two-dimensional torus are studied. Its solitons are found to be unstable but can be stabilized by the addition of a Sk yrme-like term to the Lagrangian. Scattering at right angles with resp ect; to the initial direction of motion is observed in all cases studi ed. The model has no solutions of degree one, so when a field configur ation that resembles a soliton is considered, it shrieks to become inf initely thin. A comparison of these results with those of the model de fined on the sphere is made.