Kantowski-Sachs universes sourced by a Skyrme fluid

The Kantowski-Sachs cosmological model sourced by a Skyrme field and a cosmological constant is considered in the framework of general relativity. Assuming a constant radial profile function α=π/2 for the hedgehog ansatz, the Skyrme contribution to Einstein equations is shown to be equivalent to an anisotropic fluid. Using dynamical system techniques, a qualitative analysis of the cosmological equations is presented. Physically interesting features of the model such as isotropization, bounce and recollapse are discussed.