Vortices of SO(2) gauged Skyrmions in 2+1 dimensions

Abstract

Vortices of the SO(2) gauged planar Skyrme model with (a) only Maxwell, (b) only Chern-Simons, and (c) both Maxwell and Chern-Simons dynamics are studied systematically. In cases (a) and (b), where both models feature a single parameter lambda (the coupling of the potential term), the dependence of the energy on lambda is analyzed. It is shown that the plots of the energy vs lambda feature discontinuities and branches. In case (c), the emphasis is on the evolution of the topological charge, taking noninteger values. Throughout, the properties studied are contrasted with those of the corresponding Abelian Higgs models.