  We consider the exterior Cauchy-Dirichlet problem for equivariant wave maps
from 3+1 dimensional Minkowski spacetime into the three-sphere. Using mixed
analytical and numerical methods we show that, for a given topological degree
of the map, all solutions starting from smooth finite energy initial data
converge to the unique static solution (harmonic map). The asymptotics of this
relaxation process is described in detail. We hope that our model will provide
an attractive mathematical setting for gaining insight into
dissipation-by-dispersion phenomena, in particular the soliton resolution
conjecture.
