Hyperbolic monopole-type solutions in $SU(3)$ Yang-Mills theory

Abstract

We construct $S^1$-invariant solutions of the $SU(3)$ pure Yang-Mills theory on four-dimensional Euclidean space using the Cho-Faddeev-Niemi decomposition and a harmonic map from $S^2$ into the flag manifold $F_3=SU(3)/U(1)^2$. The resulting ansatz reduces the full Yang-Mills equations to coupled radial equations. Solving the coupled equations, we derive two types of solutions: analytic self-dual solutions interpreted as noninteracting clusters of hyperbolic monopoles and non-self-dual numerical solutions that can be interpreted as hyperbolic monopole-antimonopole bound states. In the large-mass limit of the hyperbolic monopole-antimonopole bound states, their normalized action approaches the energy of the corresponding non-Bogomolny $SU(3)$ monopole in flat space.