Heisenberg spins on an elastic torus section

Classical Heisenberg spins in the continuum limit (i.e., the nonlinear sigma-model) are studied on an elastic torus section with homogeneous boundary conditions. The corresponding rigid model exhibits topological soliton configurations with geometrical frustration due to the torus eccentricity. Assuming small and smooth deformations allows us to find shapes of the elastic support by relaxing the rigidity constraint: an inhomogeneous Lame equation arises. Finally, this leads to a novel geometric effect: a global shrinking with swellings. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.