The $α$ particle as a canonically quantized multiskyrmion

Abstract

The rational map approximation to the solution to the SU(2) Skyrme model with baryon number B=4 is canonically quantized. The quantization procedure leads to anomalous breaking of the chiral symmetry, and exponential falloff of the energy density of the soliton at large distances. The model is extended to SU(2) representations of arbitrary dimension. These soliton solutions capture the double node feature of the empirical $α$ particle charge form factor, but as expected lead to a too compact matter distribution. Comparison to phenomenology indicates a preference for the fundamental representation.