Generalized Semilocal Theories and Higher Hopf Maps

Abstract

\def\mon{S^3\stackrel{S^1}{\rightarrow}S^2} \def\inst{S^7\stackrel{S^3}{\rightarrow}S^4} \def\octo{S^{15}\stackrel{S^7}{\rightarrow}S^8} In semilocal theories, the vacuum manifold is fibered in a non-trivial way by the action of the gauge group. Here we generalize the original semilocal theory (which was based on the Hopf bundle $\mon$) to realize the next Hopf bundle $\inst$, and its extensions $S^{2n+1}\stackrel{S^3}\rightarrow \H P^n$. The semilocal defects in this class of theories are classified by $\pi_3(S^3)$, and are interpreted as constrained instantons or generalized sphaleron configurations. We fail to find a field theoretic realization of the final Hopf bundle $\octo$, but are able to construct other semilocal spaces realizing Stiefel bundles over Grassmanian spaces.