This concise research monograph introduces and reviews the concept of chiral soliton models for baryons. In these models, baryons emerge as (topological) defects of the chiral field. The many applications shed light on a number of bayron properties, ranging from static properties via nuclear resonances to even heavy ion collisions. This volume also features a number of appendices to help nonspecialist readers to follow in more detail some of the calculations in the main text.

This concise research monograph introduces and reviews the concept of chiral soliton models for baryons. In these models, baryons emerge as (topological) defects of the chiral field. The many applications shed light on a number of bayron properties, ranging from static properties via nucleon resonances and deep inelastic scattering to even heavy ion collisions. As far as possible, the theoretical investigations are confronted with experiment. Conceived to bridge the gap between advanced graduate textbooks and the research literature, this volume also features a number of appendices to help nonspecialist readers to follow in more detail some of the calculations in the main text.

It has been well recognized that the study of the excitations of the nucleon can shed light on the nonperturbative aspects of QCD. New opportunities for such study will be opened in the next few years with the commissioning of experiments in Hall B of the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab). Photo- and electroproduction studies of single and double pions, rhos, omegas, and kaons will be conducted with unprecedented precision. The Hall B CLAS detector is a major step forward, promising to provide kinematically complete measurements of cross sections and spin observables. The task of extracting new insights from such detailed measurements will require close coordination between experimental and theoretical physicists.To help optimize this interface between theory and experiment, a joint CEBAF/INT workshop was held at the Institute of Nuclear Theory in Seattle, September 9-13, 1996. The foci of the 1996 workshop included: N → N∗ transition form factors as predicted by QCD-inspired models and their experimental consequences; theoretical techniques employing QCD sum rules, perturbative QCD, and lattice QCD; reaction theories of photo- and electro-production of mesons; theoretical issues in the eta meson, vector meson, and two-pion production channels; progress in developing amplitude analyses for the available and expected data; the relationship between the Hall B program and those of other new experimental facilities.This proceeding will serve readers as both a current perspective on the field and a guide to future experimental and theoretical research directions.

The revival of the Skyrme model for baryons has led to a large variety of investigations ranging from the foundations of effective meson theories and chiral soliton models, over numerous extensions of Skyrme's original concept, to many impressive results in applications to the meson-baryon system. Each author has made essential contributions to the field of his expertise, and the lectures collected in this proceedings review and asses the present status of these achievements and serve as guiding lines for future developments.