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Topological term in the non-linear $σ$ model of the SO(5) spin chains

We show that there is a topological (Berry phase) term in the non-linear $σ$ model description of the SO(5) spin chain. It distinguishes the linear and projective representations of the SO(5) symmetry group, in exact analogy to the well-known $θ$-term of the SO(3) spin chain. The presence of the topological term is due to the fact that $π_2(\frac{SO(5)}{SO(3)\times SO(2)})= \mathbb{Z}$. We discuss the implication of our results on the spectra of the SO(5) spin chain, and connect it with a recent solvable SO(5) spin model which exhibits valence bond solid ground state and edge degeneracy.