A geometric algorithm to construct new solitons in the O(3) nonlinear sigma model

The O(3) nonlinear sigma model with boundary. in dimension two, is considered. An algorithm to determine all its soliton solutions that preserve a rotational symmetry in the boundary is exhibited. This nonlinear problem is reduced to that of clamped elastica in a hyperbolic plane. These solutions carry topological charges that can be holographically determined from the boundary conditions. As a limiting case, we give a wide family of new soliton solutions in the free O(3) nonlinear sigma model. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.