Kinks, chains, and loop groups in the CP^n sigma models

Abstract

We consider topological solitons in the CP^n sigma models in two space dimensions. In particular, we study "kinks", which are independent of one coordinate up to a rotation of the target space, and "chains", which are periodic in one coordinate up to a rotation of the target space. Kinks and chains both exhibit constituents, similar to monopoles and calorons in SU(n) Yang-Mills-Higgs and Yang-Mills theories. We examine the constituent structure using Lie algebras.