Skyrmion hedgehog ansatz ($U_0(\mathbf{x})=\cos f(r)+i\sin f(r)\hat{\mathbf{x}}\cdot \mathbf{\sigma }$)

The unit Skyrmion has a spherically symmetric ansatz with Pauli matrices $\mathbf{\sigma }$, $f(0)=\pi$ and $f(\infty )=0$. The baryon number isThe radial profile is obtained from the Skyrme model variational equation. Spatial rotations and isospin rotations act on the same hedgehog orientation, leaving only three independent rotational collective coordinates.

Write $U=A{U}_0{A}^{-1}$, $A\in SU(2)$, and $A^{-1}\dot{A}=i\mathbf{\omega }\cdot \mathbf{\sigma }/2$. The rotational kinetic energy is $\Lambda |\mathbf{\omega }{|}^2/2$. Since $A$ and $-A$ give the same classical field, the physical orientation space is $SO(3)$, covered by $SU(2)$. For fermionic unit baryons the Finkelstein-Rubinstein constraints require $\Psi (-A)=-\Psi (A)$. The SU(2) representations then give half-integer $j$, with spin angular momentum and isospin both of magnitude $j$. The rigid-rotor energies are $M+j(j+1){\hslash }^2/(2\Lambda )$; the lowest multiplets model the nucleon and Delta baryon. Large rotational energies can excite deformation and radiation, beyond the rigid approximation.