3D van der Waals sigma-model and topological excitations with logarithmic energy

The 3D vector van der Waals (or conformal) nonlinear sigma-model is proposed. It is shown that it has the “hedgehog”-like topological excitations with logarithmic energy. Their “neutral” configurations have nontrivial topological structures described by Hopf invariant. A possible influence of these excitations on the properties of the model are discussed.