In the AdS/CFT correspondence, single trace operators of large-$N$ gauge theories at large spin $J$ can be described by classical spinning strings, giving a geometric and classical description of their spectrum at strong coupling. We observe that in AdS$_3$ these strings have significant gravitational back-reaction at sufficiently large spin, since the gravitational force does not decay at long distances. We construct solutions for folded spinning strings coupled to gravity in AdS$_3$ and compute their spectrum, corresponding to the leading Regge trajectory of Virasroro primary operators. These solutions exist only below a maximal spin $J<J_\mathrm{max}$, and as $J\to J_\mathrm{max}$ the solution approaches an extremal rotating BTZ black hole.
We investigate self-gravitating rotating solutions in the Einstein-Skyrme theory. These solutions are globally regular and asymptotically flat. We present a new kind of solutions with zero baryon number, which possess neither a flat limit nor a static limit.
We investigate properties of self-gravitating isorotating Skyrmions in the generalized Einstein-Skyrme model with higher-derivative terms in the matter field sector. These stationary solutions are axially symmetric, regular and asymptotically flat. We provide a detailed account of the branch structure of the spinning solutions in the topological sector of degree one. We show that additional branches of solutions appear, as the angular frequency increases above some critical value, these "cloudy" configurations can be considered as a bound system of the spinning Skyrmions and "pion" excitations…
We introduce a formulation for spinning gravitating objects in the effective field theory in the post-Newtonian scheme in the context of the binary inspiral problem. We aim at an effective action, where all field modes below the orbital scale are integrated out. We spell out the relevant degrees of freedom, in particular the rotational ones, and the associated symmetries. Building on these symmetries, we introduce the minimal coupling part of the point particle action in terms of gauge rotational variables, and construct the spin-induced nonminimal couplings, where we obtain the leading order …
Based on the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner (ADM) canonical formulation of general relativity, a canonical formulation of gravitationally interacting classical spinning-object systems is given to linear order in spin. The constructed position, linear momentum and spin variables fulfill standard Poisson bracket relations. A spatially symmetric time gauge for the tetrad field is introduced. The achieved formulation is of fully reduced form without unresolved constraints, supplementary, gauge, or coordinate conditions. The canonical field momentum is not related to the extrinsic curvature of spacelike hyp…
We investigate the existence and the stability of spherically symmetric thermal equilibrium states of the self-gravitating many-particle system which satisfies the Einstein-Vlasov equations with a negative cosmological constant. While a thermal equilibrium state of the self-gravitating particle system cannot have a finite mass without an artificial wall in the asymptotically flat case, in the asymptotically AdS case, the total mass can be finite without any artificial wall due to the AdS potential barrier. In this case, the typical size of the system is characterized by the AdS radius. The equ…
We consider the $\mathrm{O}(3)$ non-linear sigma-model, composed of three real scalar fields with a standard kinetic term and with a symmetry breaking potential in four spacetime dimensions. We show that this simple, geometrically motivated model, admits both self-gravitating, asymptotically flat, non-topological solitons and hairy black holes, when minimally coupled to Einstein's gravity, $without$ the need to introduce higher order kinetic terms in the scalar fields action. Both spherically symmetric and spinning, axially symmetric solutions are studied. The solutions are obtained under a an…
We study spherically symmetric equilibrium configurations of self-gravitating massless thermal radiation in asymptotically anti-de Sitter space. In d=4, it was shown by Page and Phillips that there is a maximum red-shifted temperature, maximum mass and maximum entropy. For higher central densities, the temperature, mass and entropy undergo an infinite series of damped oscillations, corresponding to unstable configurations. We extend this work to all dimensions $d\geq 3$. We find that in $4\leq d\leq 10$, the behaviour is similar to the d=4 case. In $d\geq 11$, the temperature, mass and entropy…
Employing the thermodynamic geometry approach, we explore phase transition of four dimensional spinning black holes in an anti-de Sitter (AdS) spaces and found the following novel results. (i) Contrary to the charged AdS black hole, thermodynamic curvature of the spinning AdS black hole diverges at the critical point, without needing normalization.(ii) There is a certain region with small entropy in the space of parameters for which the thermodynamic curvature is positive and the repulsive interaction dominates. Such behavior exists even when the pressure is extremely large. (iii) The dominant…
The geometry of spinning codimension-two branes in AdS spacetime is analyzed in three and higher dimensions. The construction of non-extremal solutions is based on identifications in the covering of AdS space by isometries that have fixed points. The discussion focuses on the cases where the parameters of spinning states can be related to the velocity of a boosted static codimension-two brane. The resulting configuration describes a single spinning brane, or a set of intersecting branes, each one produced by an independent identification. The nature of the singularity is also examined, establi…
Einstein's gravity minimally coupled to free, massive, classical fundamental fields admits particle-like solutions. These are asymptotically flat, everywhere non-singular configurations that realise Wheeler's concept of a geon: a localised lump of self-gravitating energy whose existence is anchored on the non-linearities of general relativity, trivialising in the flat spacetime limit. In arXiv:1708.05674 the key properties for the existence of these solutions (also referred to as stars or self-gravitating solitons) were discussed - which include a harmonic time dependence in the matter field -…
In this paper, we will analyze the thermodynamics of a small singly spinning Kerr-AdS black hole. As the black hole will be sufficient small, its temperature will be large and so we can not neglect the effects of thermal fluctuations. We will demonstrate that these thermal fluctuations correct the entropy of singly spinning Kerr-AdS black hole by a logarithmic correction term. We will analyze the implications of the logarithmic correction on other thermodynamic properties of this black hole, and analyze the stability of such a black hole. We will observe that this form of correction becomes im…
We present the next-to-next-to-leading order post-Newtonian (PN) spin-orbit Hamiltonian for two self-gravitating spinning compact objects. If at least one of the objects is rapidly rotating, then the corresponding interaction is comparable in strength to a 3.5PN effect. The result in the present paper in fact completes the knowledge of the post-Newtonian Hamiltonian for binary spinning black holes up to and including 3.5PN. The Hamiltonian is checked via known results for the test-spin case and via the global Poincare algebra with the center-of-mass vector uniquely determined by an ansatz.
By using the ultra-spinning limit as a generating solution technique, we construct a novel class of charged rotating asymptotic AdS black holes. That describes the exact D-dimnsioanl solutions of Einstein-Maxwell dilaton theory in the presence of negative cosmological constant. The obtained geometries possess some punctures, describing a noncompact horizon, but has a finite area. We then explicitly investigate the validity of the Kerr/CFT correspondence for all dimensional cases. We find a main result for the central charges associated to $[(d-1)/2]$ copies of dual $2D$ CFTs. We then argue the…
We investigate the consequences of throwing point particles into odd-dimensional Myers-Perry black holes in asymptotically anti-de Sitter (AdS) backgrounds. We restrict our attention to the case in which the angular momenta of the background geometry are all equal. This process allows us to test the generalization of the weak cosmic censorship conjecture to asymptotically AdS spacetimes in higher dimensions. We find no evidence for overspinning in D = 5, 7, 9 and 11 dimensions. Instead, test particles carrying the maximum possible angular momentum that still fall into an extremal rotating blac…
We develop a systematic framework to compute the conformal partial wave expansions (CPWEs) of tree-level four-point Witten diagrams with totally symmetric external fields of arbitrary mass and integer spin in AdS$_{d+1}$. Employing this framework, we determine the CPWE of a generic exchange Witten diagram with spinning exchanged field. As an intermediate step, we diagonalise the linear map between spinning three-point conformal structures and spinning cubic couplings in AdS. As a concrete application, we compute all exchange diagrams in the type A higher-spin gauge theory on AdS$_{d+1}$, which…
We consider the dynamics of the motion of a particle of mass M and spin J in AdS_3. The study reveals the presence of different dynamical sectors depending on the relative values of M, J and the AdS_3 radius R. For the subcritical M^2 R^2-J^2 >0 and supercritical M^2 R^2-J^2<0 cases, it is seen that the equations of motion give the geodesics of AdS_3. For the critical case M^2R^2=J^2 there exist extra gauge transformations which further reduce the physical degrees of freedom, and the motion corresponds to the geodesics of AdS_2. This result should be useful in the holographic interpretation of…
By applying Newman's method, the AdS_3 rotating black hole solution is "derived" from the nonrotating black hole solution of Banados, Teitelboim and Zanelli (BTZ). The rotating BTZ solution derived in this fashion is given in "Boyer-Lindquist-type" coordinates whereas the form of the solution originally given by BTZ is given in a kind of an "unfamiliar" coordinates which are related to each other by a transformation of time coordinate alone. The relative physical meaning between these two coordinates is carefully studied by evaluating angular momentum per unit mass, angular velocity, surface g…
Electrostatics on global Anti-de-Sitter (AdS) spacetime is sharply different from that on global Minkowski spacetime. It admits a multipolar expansion with everywhere regular, finite energy solutions, for every multipole moment except the monopole (arXiv:1507.04370). A similar statement holds for global AdS magnetostatics. We show that everywhere regular, finite energy, electric plus magnetic fields exist on AdS in three distinct classes: $(I)$ with non-vanishing total angular momentum $J$; $(II)$ with vanishing $J$ but non-zero angular momentum density, $T^t_φ$; $(III)$ with vanishing $J$ and…
In this paper we investigate the equilibrium self-gravitating radiation in higher dimensional, plane symmetric anti-de Sitter space. We find that there exist essential differences from the spherically symmetric case: In each dimension ($d\geq 4$), there are maximal mass (density), maximal entropy (density) and maximal temperature configurations, they do not appear at the same central energy density; the oscillation behavior appearing in the spherically symmetric case, does not happen in this case; and the mass (density), as a function of the central energy density, increases first and reaches …
We present a self-gravitating dyon solution of the Einstein-Yang-Mills-Higgs equations of motion in asymptotically AdS space. The back reaction of gauge and Higgs fields on the space-time geometry leads to the metric of an asymptotically AdS black hole. Using the gauge/gravity correspondence we analyze relevant properties of the finite temperature quantum field theory defined on the boundary. In particular we identify an order operator, characterize a phase transition of the dual theory on the border and also compute the expectation value of the finite temperature Wilson loop.
In the extended phase space, the $d$-dimensional singly spinning Kerr-AdS black holes exhibit the van der Waals's phase transition and reentrant phase transition. Since the black hole system is a single characteristic parameter thermodynamic system, we show that the form of the critical point can be uniquely determined by the dimensional analysis. When $d=4$, we get the analytical critical point. The coexistence curve and phase diagrams are obtained. The result shows that the fitting form of the coexistence curve in the reduced parameter space is independent of the angular momentum. When $d=5$…
We study a general class of spinning pulsating strings in $(AdS_5 \times S^5)_{\varkappa}$ background. For these family of solitons, we examine the scaling relation between the energy, spin or angular momentum. We verify that in $\varkappa \rightarrow 0 $ limit these relations reduce to the undeformed $AdS_5 \times S^5$ case. We further study an example of a string which is spinning in the $\varkappa$-deformed AdS$_5$ and S$^5$ simultaneously and find out the scaling relation among various conserved charges.
We extend the work of \cite{Ferrara:1971vh},\cite{Ferrara:1973vz}, to obtain an integral expression of OPE blocks for spinning primaries in CFT$_{2}$. We observe, when the OPE blocks are made out of conserved spinning primaries, the integral becomes a product of two copies of weighted AdS$_{2}$ fields, smeared along geodesics. In this way, conserved current OPE blocks in CFT$_{2}$ have a different representation in terms of AdS$_{2}$ geodesic operators, in stead of viewing them as AdS$_{3}$ geodesic operators. We also show, how this representation can be related to AdS$_{3}$ massless higher sp…
We examine the leading Regge string states relevant for semi-classical spinning string solutions. Using elementary RNS techniques, quadratic terms in an effective lagrangian are constructed which describe massive NSNS strings in a space-time with five-form flux. We then examine the specific case of AdS_5 x S^5, finding the dependence of AdS "energy" (E_0) on spin in AdS (S), spin on the sphere (J), and orbital angular momentum on the sphere (\nabla_a \nabla^a).
The charged, spinning and gravitating soliton is realized as a regular solution of the Kerr-Newman field coupled with a chiral Higgs model. A regular core of the solution is formed by a domain wall bubble interpolating between the external Kerr-Newman solution and a flat superconducting interior. An internal electromagnetic (em) field is expelled to the boundary of the bubble by the Higgs field. The solution reveals two new peculiarities: (i) the Higgs field is oscillating, similar to the known oscillon models, (ii) the em field forms on the edge of the bubble a Wilson loop, resulting in quant…
We present the next-to-next-to-leading order post-Newtonian (PN) spin(1)-spin(2) Hamiltonian for two self-gravitating spinning compact objects. If both objects are rapidly rotating, then the corresponding interaction is comparable in strength to a 4PN effect. The Hamiltonian is checked via the global Poincare algebra with the center-of-mass vector uniquely determined by an ansatz.
We propose the action of d=4 Anti-de Sitter (AdS) spinning particle with arbitrary fixed quantum numbers. Regardless of the spin value, the configuration space of the model is a direct product of d=4 AdS space and two-dimensional sphere corresponds to spinning degrees of freedom. The model is an AdS counterpart of the massive spinning particle in the Minkowski space proposed earlier. Being AdS-invariant, the model possesses two gauge symmetries implying identical conservation law for AdS-counterparts of mass and spin. Two equivalent forms of the action functional, minimal and manifestly covari…
We study four-point functions of spinning operators in the flavor current multiplet in four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs, using superspace techniques. In particular we explicitly construct the differential operators relating the different components of the super-correlator. As a byproduct of our analysis, we report the computation of the four-point amplitudes of gluons in bosonic Yang-Mills theories on $\mathrm{AdS}_5$ and we give evidence of an AdS double copy relation between the gluon amplitude and its gravitational counterpart.
We use the string sigma model action in AdS_5 \times S^5 to reconstruct the open string solution ending on the Wilson loop in S^3\times R parametrized by a geometric angle in S^3 and an angle in flavor space. Under the interchange of the world sheet space and time coordinates and the T-duality transformation with the radial inversion, the static open string configuration associated with the BPS Wilson loop with two equal angle parameters becomes a long open spinning string configuration which is produced by taking the equal limit of two frequencies for the folded spinning closed string with tw…
We study classical spinning closed string configuration on logarithmically deformed AdS_5 x T^{1,1} background with non-trivial Neveu-Schwarz B-field in which IIB string theory is dual to a non-conformal N=1 SU(N+M) x SU(N) gauge theory. The integrability on original AdS_5 x T^{1,1} background are significantly reduced by B-field. We find several spinning string solutions with two different ansatzs. Solutions for point-like strings and few circular strings are explicitly obtained. Folded spinning string solutions along radial direction are shown to be allowed in this background. These solution…
The next-to-next-to-leading order spin-squared interaction potential for generic compact binaries is derived for the first time via the effective field theory for gravitating spinning objects in the post-Newtonian scheme. The spin-squared sector is an intricate one, as it requires the consideration of the point particle action beyond minimal coupling, and mainly involves the spin-squared worldline couplings, which are quite complex, compared to the worldline couplings from the minimal coupling part of the action. This sector also involves the linear in spin couplings, as we go up in the nonlin…
The scrambling time and its delay are calculated using holography in an asymptotically AdS black hole solution of the gauged Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton-Axion (EMDA) theory, the dyonic Kerr-Sen-AdS$_4$ black hole, perturbed by rotating and charged shock waves along the equator. The leading term of the scrambling time for a black hole with large entropy is logarithmic in the entropy and hence supports the fast scrambling conjecture for this black hole solution, which implies that the system under consideration is chaotic. We also find that the instantaneous minimal Lyapunov index is bounded by $κ=…
We point out the existence of some simple string solitons in AdS_5 x S^5, which at the same time are spinning in AdS_5 and pulsating in S^5, or vice-versa. This introduces an additional arbitrary constant into the scaling relations between energy and spin or R-charge. The arbitrary constant is not an angular momentum, but can be related to the amplitude of the pulsation. We discuss the solutions in detail and consider the scaling relations. Pulsating multi spin or multi R-charge solutions can also be constructed.
The two-twistor formulation of particle mechanics in D-dimensional anti-de Sitter space for D=4,5,7, which linearises invariance under the AdS isometry group Sp(4;K) for K=R,C,H, is generalized to the massless N-extended "spinning particle". The twistor variables are gauge invariant with respect to the initial N local worldline supersymmetries; this simplifies aspects of the quantum theory such as implications of global gauge anomalies. We also give details of the two-supertwistor form of the superparticle, in particular the massive superparticle on AdS_5.
In this paper we generalize the results of arXiv:0806.4758 to non-zero value J of angular momentum in S^5. We compute the 1-loop correction to the energy of the folded spinning string in AdS_5 x S^5 in the particular limit of slow short string approximation. In this limit the string is moving in a near-flat central region of AdS_5 slowly rotating in both AdS_5 and S^5. The one-loop correction should represent the first subleading correction to strong coupling expansion of the anomalous dimension of short gauge theory operators of the form Tr D^S Z^J in the SL(2) sector.
We show that bosonic spinning strings on the η-deformed AdS_5 x S^5 background are naturally described as periodic solutions of a novel finite-dimensional integrable system which can be viewed as a deformation of the celebrated Neumann model. For this deformed model we find the Lax representation and the analogue of the Uhlenbeck integrals.
We study the semiclassical decay of macroscopic spinning strings in AdS_5 x S^5 through spontaneous splitting of the folded string worldsheet. Based on similar considerations in flat space this decay channel is expected to dominate the full quantum computation. The outgoing strings are uniquely specified by an infinite set of conserved (local) charges with a regular expansion in inverse powers of the initial angular momentum. We compute these charges and determine functional relations between them. Finally, a preliminary discussion of the corresponding calculation in the non-planar sector of t…
We derive the coherent state representation of the integrable spin chain Hamiltonian with symmetry group SL(2,R). By passing to the continuum limit, we find a spin chain sigma model describing a string moving on the hyperboloid SL(2,R)/U(1). The same sigma model is found by considering strings rotating with large angular momentum in AdS_5xS^5. The spinning strings are identified with semiclassical coherent states built out of SL(2,R) spin chain states.
In this paper, considering the correspondence between spin chains and string sigma models, we explore the rotating string solutions over $ η$ deformed $ AdS_5 \times S^{5} $ in the so called fast spinning limit. In our analysis, we focus only on the bosonic part of the full superstring action and compute the relevant limits on both $(R \times S^{3})_η $ and $(R \times S^{5})_η $ models. The resulting system reveals that in the fast spinning limit, the sigma model on $ η$ deformed $S^5$ could be $\textit{approximately}$ thought of as the continuum limit of anisotropic $ SU(3) $ Heisenberg spin …
We implement the effective field theory for gravitating spinning objects in the post-Newtonian scheme at the next-to-next-to-leading order level to derive the gravitational spin-orbit interaction potential at the third and a half post-Newtonian order for rapidly rotating compact objects. From the next-to-next-to-leading order interaction potential, which we obtain here in a Lagrangian form for the first time, we derive straightforwardly the corresponding Hamiltonian. The spin-orbit sector constitutes the most elaborate spin dependent sector at each order, and accordingly we encounter a prolife…
We analyze the folded spinning string in AdS_4 x P^3 with spin S in AdS_4 and angular momentum J in P^3. We calculate the one-loop correction to its energy in the scaling limit of both ln S and J large with their ratio kept fixed. This result should correspond to the first subleading strong coupling correction to the anomalous dimension of operators of the type Tr(D^S(Y^\dagger Y)^J) in the dual N=6 Chern-Simons-matter theory. Our result appears to depart from the predictions for the generalized scaling function found from the all-loop Bethe equations conjectured for this AdS_4/CFT_3 duality. …
We demonstrate the existence of an infinite number of local commuting charges for classical solutions of the string sigma model on AdS_5 x S^5 associated with a certain circular three-spin solution spinning with large angular momenta in three orthogonal directions on the five-sphere. Using the AdS/CFT correspondence we find agreement to one-loop with the tower of conserved higher charges in planar N=4 super Yang-Mills theory associated with the dual composite single-trace operator in the highest weight representation (J_1,J_2,J_2) of SO(6). The agreement can be explained by the presence of int…
We derive the low-energy effective action for the spinning (GKP) string in AdS(3) x S(3) x M(4) where M(4) = S(3) x S(1) or T(4). In the first case the action consists of two O(4) non-linear sigma models which are coupled through their interaction with four massless Majorana fermions (plus one free decoupled scalar). While in the second case it consists of one O(4) sigma model coupled to four Majorana fermions together with four free scalars from the T(4). We show that these models are classically integrable by constructing their Lax connections.
We construct nonrelativistic spinning string solutions corresponding to $ SU(1,2|3) $ Spin-Matrix theory (SMT) limit of strings in $ AdS_5 \times S^5 $. Considering various nonrelativistic spinning string configurations both in $ AdS_5 $ as well as $ S^5 $ we obtain corresponding dispersion relations in the strong coupling regime of SMT where the strong coupling ($ \sim \sqrt{\mathfrak{g}} $) corrections near the BPS bound have been estimated in the slow spinning limit of strings in $ AdS_5 $. We generalize our results explicitly by constructing three spin folded string configurations that has…
We derive the one-loop correction to the space-time energy of a folded string in AdS_4 x CP^3 carrying spin S in AdS_4 and angular momentum J in CP^3 in the long string approximation. From this general result in the limit J << log S we obtain the one-loop correction to the cusp anomalous dimension which turns out to be -5 log 2/(2π). This value appears to be in conflict with the prediction from the recently conjectured all-loop Bethe ansatz.
The sigma model describing closed strings rotating in AdS_3 x S^3 is known to reduce to the one-dimensional Neumann-Rosochatius integrable system. In this article we show that closed spinning strings in AdS_3 x S^3 x T^4 in the presence of NS-NS three-form flux can be described by an extension of the Neumann-Rosochatius system. We consider closed strings rotating with one spin in AdS_3 and two different angular momenta in S^3. For a class of solutions with constant radii we find the dependence of the classical energy on the spin and the angular momenta as an expansion in the square of the 't H…
Motivated by desire to shed light on the strong coupling behaviour of anomalous dimensions of "short" gauge theory operators we consider the famous example of folded spinning string in AdS_5 in the limit of small semiclassical spin parameter §= S/sqrt[lambda]. In this limit the string becomes short and is moving in a near-flat central region of AdS_5. Its energy scales with spin as E = sqrt[2 S] [ a_0 + a_1 S + a_2 S^2 + ...]. We explicitly compute the leading 1-loop quantum AdS_5 x S^5 superstring corrections to the short-string limit coefficients a_0 and a_1 and show, in particular, that a_1…
We present a self-gravitating, analytic and globally regular Skyrmion solution of the Einstein-Skyrme system with winding number w = 1, in presence of a cosmological constant. The static spacetime metric is the direct product RxS3 and the Skyrmion is the self-gravitating generalization of the static hedgehog solution of Manton and Ruback with unit topological charge. This solution can be promoted to a dynamical one in which the spacetime is a cosmology of the Bianchi type-IX with time-dependent scale and squashing coefficients. Remarkably, the Skyrme equations are still identically satisfied f…
Motivated by the recent proposal for the S-matrix in $AdS_3\times S^3$ with mixed three form fluxes, we study classical folded string spinning in $AdS_3$ with both Ramond and Neveu-Schwarz three form fluxes. We solve the equations of motion of these strings and obtain their dispersion relation to the leading order in the Neveu-Schwarz flux $b$. We show that dispersion relation for the spinning strings with large spin ${\cal S}$ acquires a term given by $-\frac{\sqrtλ}{2π} b^2\log^2 {\cal S}$ in addition to the usual $\frac{\sqrtλ}π \log {\cal S}$ term where $\sqrtλ$ is proportional to the squa…
We use AdS_5 x S^5 superstring sigma model perturbation theory to compute the leading one-loop corrections to the dispersion relations of the excitations near a long spinning string in AdS. This investigation is partially motivated by the OPE-based approach to the computation of the expectation value of null polygonal Wilson loops suggested in arXiv:1006.2788. Our results are in partial agreement with the recent asymptotic Bethe ansatz computation in arXiv:1010.5237. In particular, we find that the heaviest AdS mode (absent in the ABA approach) is stable and has a corrected one-loop dispersion…
We develop a systematic approach to evaluating AdS loop amplitudes based on the spectral (or "split") representation of bulk-to-bulk propagators, which re-expresses loop diagrams in terms of spectral integrals and higher-point tree diagrams. In this work we focus on 2pt one-loop Witten diagrams involving totally symmetric fields of arbitrary mass and integer spin. As an application of this framework, we study the contribution to the anomalous dimension of higher-spin currents generated by bubble diagrams in higher-spin gauge theories on AdS.
Cosmic strings are considered in two types of gauged sigma models, which generalize the gravitating Abelian Higgs model. The two models differ by whether the U(1) kinetic term is of the Maxwell or Chern-Simons form. We obtain the self-duality conditions for a general two-dimensional target space defined in terms of field dependent "dielectric functions". In particular, we analyze analytically and numerically the equations for the case of O(3) models (two-sphere as target space), and find cosmic string solutions of several kinds as well as gravitating vortices. We classify the solutions by thei…