The skyrmion-skyrmion interaction

Using the Skyrme effective lagrangian, baryons emerge as topological solitons. This effective lagrangian is used in adiabatic calculations aimed at providing an essentially parameter-free model of the interaction between such solitons. The resulting skyrmion-skyrmion interaction can be understood as terms simulating the exchange of π-, ρ-, and ω-mesons between the solitons. It is readily transformed (by essentially projective techniques) into a low-energy nucleon-nucleon potential. Comparisons of this potential with the best available semiphenomenological nucleon-nucleon interactions are found to be successful at the 30% level. Similarities between the Skyrme model and the quark chiral-bag model are discussed.