Motivated by astrophysical observations of excess electronic production in the galaxy, new theoretical models of the dark matter sector have been proposed in which the Standard model couples to the dark matter sector through an attractive interaction. The coupling of the Standard model to "dark strings", which are solutions of the low energy dark sector has been investigated recently. Here, we discuss the interaction between dark strings and standard cosmic strings and show that they can form bound states. In the presence of the interaction term, a Bogomolny-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) bound exists that depends on the interaction parameter and we observe that the attractive interaction between dark strings and cosmic strings is most efficient if the two strings are identical. Moreover, our model allows for dark string solution that can lower their energy by coupling to an electromagnetic field. We also investigate the gravitational properties of these solutions and show that they become supermassive with a singular space-time for values of the gravitational coupling larger as compared to the non-interacting case. Moreover, the deficit angle of the solutions decreases with increasing interaction.
It is shown that brane world gravity produces an attractive force between cosmic strings, in contrast to conventional Einstein gravity. This force is sufficient for stable bound states of Type II strings (which normally repel each other) to form. There is a small separation between the strings, giving them a rope-like structure. At astronomical scales these `cosmic ropes' resemble higher winding number strings, and so all brane world cosmic strings are effectively Type I.
We apply the concept of helicity from classical hydrodynamics to elucidate two problematical issues in cosmic string physics. Helicity, the space integral of the scalar product of a velocity-like field with its vorticity field (curl), can be defined for a complex scalar field in analogy with fluids. We dwell on the topological interpretation of helicity as related to the linking of field lines of the vorticity field. Earlier works failed to fully implement this interpretation for cosmic strings by missing a term connected with the linking of these lines inside the strings. As a result paradoxi…
We consider a toroidal configuration of cosmic string in 3+1 dimensions in an abelian Higgs model, a compactification of the Nielsen-Olesen string. This object is classically unstable. We explicitly compute the number of permitted zero modes for majorana fermions coupled to such a string. As in the case of indefinitely long strings, there are |n| zero modes for winding number sector n, and correspondingly, induced fermionic charge n/2 which canbe fractional. According to a previously proved result, this implies quantum mechanical stability for objects with odd winding number. The result is of …
We study stabilization of an unstable cosmic string associated with spontaneously broken $U(1)_R$ symmetry, which otherwise causes a dangerous roll-over process. We demonstrate that in a gauge mediation model, messengers can receive enough corrections from the thermal plasma of the supersymmetric standard model particles to stabilize the unstable modes of the string.
We re-visit the production of cosmic rays by cusps on cosmic strings. If a scalar field (``Higgs'') has a linear interaction with the string world-sheet, such as would occur if there is a bosonic condensate on the string, cusps on string loops emit narrow beams of very high energy Higgses which then decay to give a flux of ultra high energy cosmic rays. The ultra-high energy flux and the gamma to proton ratio agree with observations if the string scale is $\sim 10^{13}$ GeV. The diffuse gamma ray and proton fluxes are well below current bounds. Strings that are {\it lighter} and have linear in…
The topological defect scenario of origin of the observed highest energy cosmic rays is reviewed. Under a variety of circumstances, topological defects formed in the early Universe can be sources of very massive particles in the Universe today. The decay products of these massive particles may be responsible for the observed highest energy cosmic ray particles above $10^{20}$ eV. Some massive particle production processes involving cosmic strings and magnetic monopoles are discussed. We also discuss the implications of results of certain recent numerical simulations of evolution of cosmic stri…
We study diffusion damping of acoustic waves in the photon-baryon fluid due to cosmic strings, and calculate the induced $μ$- and $y$-type spectral distortions of the cosmic microwave background. For cosmic strings with tension within current bounds, their contribution to the spectral distortions is subdominant compared to the distortions from primordial density perturbations.
We investigate the microphysics of supersymmetric cosmic strings. In particular we focus on the vortices admitted by N=1 supersymmetric abelian Higgs models. We find the vortex solutions and demonstrate that the two simplest supersymmetric cosmic string models admit fermionic superconductivity. Further, by using supersymmetry transformations, we show how to solve for the fermion zero modes giving rise to string superconductivity in terms of the background string fields.
We examine a Nambu-Goto string trajectory in the neighbourhood of a cusp and determine the extrinsic curvature invariants. These are demonstrated to be finite, in contradiction with naive expectation. Thus the Nambu action is a valid approximation for the motion of a cosmic string vortex even at cusps. This suggests that cusp annihilation is not a feasible mechanism for particle radiation from cosmic strings.
In these lectures, I review the current status of cosmic strings and cosmic superstrings. I first discuss topological defects in the context of Grand Unified Theories, focusing in particular in cosmic strings arising as gauge theory solitons. I discuss the reconciliation between cosmic strings and cosmological inflation, I review cosmic string dynamics, cosmic string thermodynamics and cosmic string gravity, which leads to a number of interesting observational signatures. I then proceed with the notion of cosmic superstrings arising at the end of brane inflation, within the context of brane-wo…
Electromagnetic radiation from superconducting cosmic string loops can reionize neutral hydrogen in the universe at very early epochs, and affect the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature and polarization correlation functions at large angular scales. We constrain the string tension and current using WMAP7 data, and compare with earlier constraints that employed CMB spectral distortions. Over a wide range of string tensions, the current on the string has to be less than 10^7 GeV.
We investigate cosmic sparks from cusps on superconducting cosmic strings in light of the recently discovered millisecond radio burst by Lorimer et al [1]. We find that the observed duration, fluence, spectrum, and event rate can be reasonably explained by Grand Unification scale superconducting cosmic strings that carry currents \sim 10^5 GeV. The superconducting string model predicts an event rate that falls off only as S^{-1/2}, where S is the energy flux, and hence predicts a population of very bright bursts. Other surveys, with different observational parameters, are shown to impose tight…
Flat directions are a generic feature of the scalar potential in supersymmetric gauge field theories. They can arise, for example, from D-terms associated with an extra abelian gauge symmetry. Even when supersymmetry is broken softly, there often remain directions in the scalar field space along which the potential is almost flat. Upon breaking a gauge symmetry along one of these almost flat directions, cosmic strings may form. Relative to the standard cosmic string picture based on the abelian Higgs model, these flat-direction cosmic strings have the extreme Type-I properties of a thin gauge …
Understanding of the signatures of cosmic string networks is limited by a large uncertainty in the sizes at which cosmic string loops form. We review cosmic string network evolution, and the gravitational signatures, with emphasis on this uncertainty. We then review a recent analytic model of cosmic string networks. In combination with recent simulations, this suggests that 90% of the string goes into very small loops, at the gravitational radiation scale, and 10% into loops near the Hubble scale. We discuss cosmic string signatures in such a scenario, and the `inverse problem' of determining …
Cosmic strings produce charged particles which, by emitting electromagnetic radiation, partially ionize neutral hydrogen during the dark ages. Corrections to the ionization fraction of neutral hydrogen induced by cosmic strings could lead to new observational effects and/or new constraints on the string tension around $Gμ\sim 10^{-16} - 10^{-22}$ for values of the primordial magnetic field in the range $B_0 \sim 10^{-11}-10^{-9}$ Gauss.
We present a significant update of the constraints on the Abelian Higgs cosmic string tension by cosmic microwave background (CMB) data, enabled both by the use of new high-resolution CMB data from suborbital experiments as well as the latest results of the WMAP satellite, and by improved predictions for the impact of Abelian Higgs cosmic strings on the CMB power spectra. The new cosmic string spectra (presented in a previous work) were improved especially for small angular scales, through the use of larger Abelian Higgs string simulations and careful extrapolation. If Abelian Higgs strings ar…
This article, written for Scolarpedia, provides a brief introduction into the subject of cosmic strings, together with a review of their main properties, cosmological evolution and observational signatures.
We report that axions and photons exhibit instability in the presence of cosmic strings that are carrying magnetic flux in their core. The strength of the instability is determined by the symmetry breaking scale of the cosmic string theory. This result would be evident in gamma ray bursts and axions emanating from the cosmic string. These effects will eventually lead to evaporation of the cosmic string.
We construct stringy cosmic string solutions corresponding to compactifications of F-theory on several elliptic Calabi-Yau manifolds by solving the equations of motion of low energy effective action of ten dimensional type IIB superstring theory. Existence of such solutions supports the compactifications of F-theory.
Recent developments in string theory suggest that cosmic strings could be formed at the end of brane inflation. Supergravity provides a realistic model to study the properties of strings arising in brane inflation. Whilst the properties of cosmic strings in flat space-time have been extensively studied there are significant complications in the presence of gravity. We study the effects of gravitation on cosmic strings arising in supergravity. Fermion zero modes are a common feature of cosmic strings, and generically occur in supersymmetric models. The corresponding massless currents can give r…
We develop the general formalism for joining, splitting and interconnection of closed and open strings. As an application, we study examples of fundamental cosmic string collisions leading to gravitational collapse. We find that the interconnection of two strings of equal and opposite maximal angular momentum and arbitrarily large mass generically leads to the formation of black holes, provided their relative velocity is small enough.
Towards the end of the brane inflationary epoch in the brane world, cosmic strings (but not texture, domain walls or monopoles) are copiously produced during brane collision. These cosmic strings are D$p$-branes with $(p-1)$ dimensions compactified. We elaborate on this prediction of the superstring theory description of the brane world. Using the data on the temperature anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background, we estimate the cosmic string tension $μ$ to be around $G μ\simeq 10^{-7}$. This in turn implies that the anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background comes mostly from inflation…
We calculate the fine structure constant in the spacetime of a cosmic string. In the presence of a cosmic string the value of the fine structure constant reduces. We also discuss on numerical results.
Brane inflation in superstring theory predicts that cosmic strings (but not domain walls or monopoles) are produced towards the end of the inflationary epoch. Here, we discuss the production, the spectrum and the evolution of such cosmic strings, properties that differentiate them from those coming from an abelian Higgs model. As D-branes in extra dimensions, some type of cosmic strings will dissolve rapidly in spacetime, while the stable ones appear with a spectrum of cosmic string tensions. Moreover, the presence of the extra dimensions reduces the interaction rate of the cosmic strings in s…
We use our model of the small scale structure on cosmic strings to develop further the result of Siemens, Olum, and Vilenkin that the gravitational radiation length scale on cosmic strings is smaller than the previously assumed $ΓGμt$. We discuss some of the properties of cosmic string loops at this cutoff scale, and we argue that recent network simulations point to two populations of cosmic string loops, one near the horizon scale and one near the gravitational radiation cutoff.
In the context of SUSY GUTs, GUT scale cosmic strings formed at the end of hybrid inflation are compatible with currently available CMB measurements. The maximum allowed cosmic strings contribution to the CMB data constrains the free parameters (mass scales, couplings) of inflationary models. For F-term inflation either the superpotential coupling must be fine tuned or one has to invoke the curvaton mechanism. D-term inflation should be addressed in the framework of SUGRA. We find that the cosmic strings contribution is not constant, contrary to some previous results. Using CMB measurements we…
In this paper the collision of two cosmic string loops is studied. After collision junctions are formed and the loops are entangled. We show that after their formation the junctions start to unzip and the loops disentangle. This analysis provides a theoretical understanding of the unzipping effect observed in numerical simulations of a network of cosmic strings with more than one type of cosmic strings. The unzipping phenomena have important effects in the evolution of cosmic string networks when junctions are formed upon collision, such as in a network of cosmic superstrings.
We show that GUT cosmic strings generically form after inflation if a {\it non-inert} symmetry breaks after inflation; they form irrespectively of the inflationary scenario and in both supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric theories.
In the light of $ϕ$-mapping topological current theory, the structure of cosmic strings are obtained from the Abelian Higgs model, which is an effective description to the brane world cosmic string system. In this topological description of the cosmic string, combining the result of decomposition of U(1) gauge potential, we analytically reach the familiar conclusions that in the brane world scenario the magnetic flux of the cosmic string is quantized and the RR charge of it is screened.
We argue that cosmic strings with high winding numbers generally form in first-order gauge symmetry breaking phase transitions, and we demonstrate this using computer simulations. These strings are heavier than single-winding strings and therefore more easily observable. Their cosmological evolution may also be very different.
In this paper, the knotlike cosmic strings in the Riemann-Cartan space-time of the early universe are discussed. It has been revealed that the cosmic strings can just originate from the zero points of the complex scalar quintessence field. In these strings we mainly study the knotlike configurations. Based on the integral of Chern-Simons 3-form a topological invariant for knotlike cosmic strings is constructed, and it is shown that this invariant is just the total sum of all the self-linking and linking numbers of the knots family. Furthermore, it is also pointed out that this invariant is pre…
The dynamics of cosmic strings is considered in anisotropic backgrounds. In particular, the behaviour of infinitely long straight cosmic strings and of cosmic string loops is determined. Small perturbations of a straight cosmic string are calculated. The relevance of these results is discussed with respect to the possible observational imprints of an anisotropic phase on the behaviour of a cosmic string network.
Photons can gravitationally scatter off a cosmic string loop and gain or lose energy. We consider the spectral distortion induced by cosmic string loops placed in an ambient thermal bath of photons. The fractional deviation from a thermal spectrum caused by cosmic strings is estimated to scale as (G_N μ)^2 z^2, where G_N is Newton's constant, $μ$ is the string tension, and z is the cosmological redshift after which spectral distortions can survive. This effect is large enough to potentially be of observational interest.
Cosmic strings are one-dimensional topological defects which could have been formed in the early stages of our Universe. They triggered a lot of interest, mainly for their cosmological implications: they could offer an alternative to inflation for the generation of density perturbations. It was shown however that cosmic strings lead to inconsistencies with the measurements of the cosmic microwave background temperature anisotropies. The picture is changed recently. It was shown that, on the one hand, cosmic strings can be generically formed in the framework of supersymmetric grand unified theo…
Standard D-term inflation is studied in the framework of supergravity. D-term inflation produces cosmic strings, however it can still be compatible with CMB measurements without invoking any new physics. The cosmic strings contribution to the CMB data is not constant, nor dominant, contrary to some previous results. Using current CMB measurements, the free parameters (gauge and superpotential couplings, as well as the Fayet-Iliopoulos term) of D-term inflation are constrained.
We construct complete sets of (open and closed string) covariant coherent state and mass eigenstate vertex operators in bosonic string theory. This construction can be used to study the evolution of fundamental cosmic strings as predicted by string theory, and is expected to serve as a self-contained prototype toy model on which realistic cosmic superstring vertex operators can be based on. It is also expected to be useful for other applications where massive string vertex operators are of interest. We pay particular attention to all the normalization constants, so that these vertices lead dir…
We describe a new code to search for signatures of cosmic strings in cosmic microwave anisotropy maps. The code implements the Canny Algorithm, an edge detection algorithm designed to search for the lines of large gradients in maps. Such a gradient signature which is coherent in position space is produced by cosmic strings via the Kaiser-Stebbins effect. We test the power of our new code to set limits on the tension of the cosmic strings by analyzing simulated data with and without cosmic strings. We compare maps with a pure Gaussian scale-invariant power spectrum with maps which have a contri…
In previous work, we constructed a convolutional neural network used to estimate the location of cosmic strings in simulated cosmic microwave background temperature anisotropy maps. We derived a connection between the estimates of cosmic string locations by this neural network and the posterior probability distribution of the cosmic string tension $Gμ$. Here, we significantly improve the calculation of the posterior distribution of the string tension $Gμ$. We also improve our previous plain convolutional neural network by using residual networks. We apply our new neural network and posterior c…
We study the spectrum of cosmic ray positrons produced by a scaling distribution of non-superconducting cosmic strings. In this scenario, the positrons are produced from the jets which form from the cosmic string cusp annihilation process. The spectral shape is a robust feature of our scenario, and is in good agreement with the results from the recent PAMELA and ATIC experiments. In particular, the model predicts a sharp upper cutoff in the spectrum, and a flux which rises as the upper cutoff is approached. The energy at which the flux peaks is determined by the initial jet energy. The amplitu…
We study the deformation of a long cosmic string by a nearby rotating black hole. We examine whether the deformation of a cosmic string, induced by the gravitational field of a Kerr black hole, may lead to the formation of a loop of cosmic string. The segment of the string which enters the ergosphere of a rotating black hole gets deformed and, if it is sufficiently twisted, it can self-intersect chopping off a loop of cosmic string. We find that the formation of a loop, via this mechanism, is a rare event. It will only arise in a small region of the collision phase space, which depends on the …
We study the effect of background geometry generated by a thin cosmic string on the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron. We find that the magnitude of the quantum correction to the magnetic moment depends on the distance from the cosmic string as well as on the deficit angle.
We calculate the corrections to the Fine Structure Constant in the spacetime of a cosmic string. These corrections stem from the generalized uncertainty principle. In the absence of a cosmic string our result here is in agreement with our previous result.
Macroscopic fundamental and Dirichlet strings have several potential instabilities: breakage, tachyon decays, and confinement by axion domain walls. We investigate the conditions under which metastable strings can exist, and we find that such strings are present in many models. There are various possibilities, the most notable being a network of (p,q) strings. Cosmic strings give a potentially large window into string physics.
Recent work suggests that fundamental and Dirichlet strings, and their (p,q) bound states, may be observed as cosmic strings. The evolution of cosmic string networks, and therefore their observational signals, depends on what happens when two strings collide. We study this in string perturbation theory for collisions between all possible pairs of strings; different cases involve sphere, disk, and annulus amplitudes. The result also depends on the details of compactification; the dependence on ratios of scales is only logarithmic, but this is still numerically important. We study a range of mod…
We extend the system of ungauged N=2, d=4 supergravity coupled to vector multiplets and hypermultiplets with 2-form potentials. The maximal number of 2-form potentials that one may introduce is equal to the number of isometries of either the special Kaehler or quaternionic Kaehler sigma model. We show that the local supersymmetry algebra can be realized on the 2-form potentials. These 2-forms couple electrically to strings which we refer to as stringy cosmic strings. The 1/2 BPS bosonic world-sheet actions for these strings are constructed and we discuss the properties of the 1/2 BPS stringy c…
In this paper, the problem of a two-dimensional Duffin-Petiau-Kemmer (DKP) oscillator in the presence of a coulomb potential in the cosmic string background is solved. The eigensolutions of the problem in question have been found, and the influence of the cosmic string space-time on the eigenvalues has been analyzed.
Line discontinuities in cosmic microwave background anisotropy maps are a distinctive prediction of models with cosmic strings. These signatures are visible in anisotropy maps with good angular resolution and should be identifiable using edge detection algorithms. One such algorithm is the Canny algorithm. We study the potential of this algorithm to pick out the line discontinuities generated by cosmic strings. By applying the algorithm to small-scale microwave anisotropy maps generated from theoretical models with and without cosmic strings, we find that, given an angular resolution of severa…
Special multi-cosmic string metrics are analytically extended to describe configurations of Wheeler-Misner wormholes and ordinary cosmic strings. I investigate in detail the case of flat, asymptotically Minkowskian, Wheeler-Misner wormhole spacetimes generated by two cosmic strings, each with tension $-1/4G$.
The equation of cosmic string loops in Kerr-de Sitter spacetimes is derived. Having solved the equation numerically, we find that the loops can expand and exist except for too small ones.
Cosmic strings are generically predicted in many extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. We propose a new avenue for detecting cosmic strings through their effect on the filamentary structure in the cosmic web. Using cosmological simulations of the density wake from a cosmic string, we examine a variety of filament structure probes. We show that the largest effect of the cosmic string is an overdensity in the filament distribution around the string wake. The signal from the overdensity is stronger at higher redshift, and more robust with a wider field. We analyze the spatial dist…
The static stationary axially symmetric background ("infinite cosmic string") of the $D=4$ string theory provided with an axion charge is studied in the effective theory approach. The most general exact solution is constructed. It is found that the Kalb-Ramond axion charge, present in the string topology $R^{3} \times S^{1}$, produces nontrivial gravitational field configurations which feature horizons. The corresponding ``no-hair'' theorems are proved which stress uniqueness of black strings. Connection of the solutions with the gauged WZWN sigma model constructions on the world sheet is disc…
We compute the string production rate at the end of inflation, using the string spectrum obtained in \lss in a near-de Sitter space. Our result shows that highly excited strings are hardly produced, thus the simple slow-roll inflation alone does not offer a cosmic string production mechanism.
We describe a simple model of chaotic inflation in supergravity where one can easily tune not only the basic cosmological parameters such as n_{s}, r, and f_NL, but also a possible (subdominant) cosmic string contribution to the CMB anisotropy.
In these lectures I discuss the possibility that superstrings of cosmic length might exist and be observable. I first review the original idea of cosmic strings arising as gauge theory solitons, and discuss in particular their network properties and the observational bounds that rule out cosmic strings as the principal origin of structure in our universe. I then consider cosmic superstrings, including the `fundamental' F-strings and also D-strings and strings arising from wrapped branes. I discuss the conditions under which these will exist and be observable, and ways in which different kinds …
We present an analytic study of cosmic superconducting chiral string collisions in Minkowski space, applying the kinematic constraints that arise from the relevant generalization of the Nambu-Goto action. In particular, we revisit the solution for chiral superconducting cosmic strings and demonstrate that Y junction production for such strings is possible. We consider the collision of chiral current-carrying straight strings and obtain the region in angle-velocity space that allows the production of string junctions. This study contributes to the understanding of the complex evolution of chira…
Cosmic strings are predicted in many models beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. In models which admit strings, a network of strings will inevitably be formed in a phase transition in the early universe and will persist to the present time. Strings leave behind distinctive features in cosmology. Searching for these signatures in new observational windows provides a way to constrain particle physics at the high energy scale and is thus complementary to searches for new physics at the low energy end, for example at the LHC. Specifically, I will discuss signatures of cosmic strings in c…
Gravitational waves (GWs) are one of the key signatures of cosmic strings. If GWs from cosmic strings are detected in future experiments, not only their existence can be confirmed but also their properties might be probed. In this paper, we study the determination of cosmic string parameters through direct detection of GW signatures in future ground-based GW experiments. We consider two types of GWs, bursts and the stochastic GW background, which provide us with different information about cosmic string properties. Performing the Fisher matrix calculation on the cosmic string parameters, such …
We show that all three conditions for the cosmological relevance of heterotic cosmic strings, the right tension, stability and a production mechanism at the end of inflation, can be met in the strongly coupled M-theory regime. Whereas cosmic strings generated from weakly coupled heterotic strings have the well known problems posed by Witten in 1985, we show that strings arising from M5-branes wrapped around 4-cycles (divisors) of a Calabi-Yau in heterotic M-theory compactifications, solve these problems in an elegant fashion.
The equation of circular loops of cosmic string with time-dependent tension is studied in the Minkowski spacetime and Robertson-Walker universe. We find that, in the case where the tension depends on some power of the cosmic time, cosmic string loops with time-varying tension should not collapse to form a black hole if the power is lower than a critical value.
