Cosmic Strings Research Articles

Presence of Exotic Matter in Levia-Civita and Cosmic String Solutions

Presence of Exotic Matter in Levia-Civita and Cosmic String Solutions

Theoretical Study of Position-Dependent Mass Particle in Cosmic String Space-Time and External Magnetic Field

In this work, we discuss the case of a non-relativistic quantum particle in the cosmic string space-time under the influence of the presence of external magnetic and exponential potential. It’s shown with the help of the Laplace transform method the second-order differential equation of the Schrodinger equation is solvable where it is reduced to a first-order differential equation. We obtain the eigenfunction and the non-relativistic energy spectrum. In addition, these results may be useful in the future study of thermodynamic, optic, and magnetic properties of the atomic interaction of a system particle. Keywords: Schrodinger equation; Laplace transform method; Position dependent mass; External magnetic field; Cosmic string

Probing the neutrino seesaw scale with gravitational waves

Neutrinos are the most elusive particles of the Standard Model. The physics behind their masses remains unknown and requires introducing new particles and interactions. An elegant solution to this problem is provided by the seesaw mechanism. Typically considered at a high scale, it is potentially testable in gravitational wave experiments by searching for a spectrum from cosmic strings, which offers a rather generic signature across many high-scale seesaw models. Here we consider the possibility of a low-scale seesaw mechanism at the PeV scale, generating neutrino masses within the framework of a model with gauged U(1) lepton number. In this case, the gravitational wave signal at high frequencies arises from a first order phase transition in the early Universe, whereas at low frequencies it is generated by domain wall annihilation, leading to a double-peaked structure in the gravitational wave spectrum. The signals discussed here can be searched for in upcoming experiments, including gravitational wave interferometers, pulsar timing arrays, and astrometry observations. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Klein–Gordon equation in the presence of a vector generalized Yukawa and a scalar generalized Hulthen potentials in the rotating cosmic string space–time

In this paper, we explore the relativistic quantum dynamics of spin-0 oscillator fields within the framework of a rotating cosmic string space–time, taking into account the presence of scalar and vector potentials. We solve the Klein–Gordon oscillator equation in this curved space–time, incorporating generalized versions of the Yukawa and Hulthen potentials as vector and scalar potentials, respectively. The analytical solution of the quantum system yields the energy eigenvalue and corresponding eigenfunction, which is expressed in terms of confluent Heun functions. The resulting energy spectrum is shown to depend on various parameters associated with the cosmic string space–time and the confining potentials. We graphically illustrate how the energy spectrum varies with changes in both the potential parameters and the cosmic string parameters.

Crescendo beyond the horizon: more gravitational waves from domain walls bounded by inflated cosmic strings

Abstract Gravitational-wave (GW) signals offer a unique window into the dynamics of the early universe. GWs may be generated by the topological defects produced in the early universe, which contain information on the symmetry of UV physics. We consider the case in which a two-step phase transition produces a network of domain walls bounded by cosmic strings. Specifically, we focus on the case in which there is a hierarchy in the symmetry-breaking scales, and a period of inflation pushes the cosmic string generated in the first phase transition outside the horizon before the second phase transition. We show that the GW signal from the evolution and collapse of this string-wall network has a unique spectrum, and the resulting signal strength can be sizeable. In particular, depending on the model parameters, the resulting signal can show up in a broad range of frequencies and can be discovered by a multitude of future probes, including the pulsar timing arrays and space- and ground-based GW observatories. As an example that naturally gives rise to this scenario, we present a model with the first phase transition followed by a brief period of thermal inflation driven by the field responsible for the second stage of symmetry breaking. The model can be embedded into a supersymmetric setup, which provides a natural realization of this scenario. In this case, the successful detection of the peak of the GW spectrum probes the soft supersymmetry breaking scale and the wall tension.

Exact solution of the Klein–Gordon oscillator in wormhole spacetime with Heun polynomial

In this paper, we investigate the relativistic harmonic oscillator in the Ellis–Bronnikov-type wormhole spacetime with a global monopole and cosmic string. We obtain the angular and radial wave functions exactly as well as the eigenenergies. Additionally, the radial wave function is expressed in terms of Heun polynomial, and as a consequence, the oscillation frequency is quantized. Finally, we graphically analyze the influence of the wormhole, as well as the influence of the global monopole and cosmic string on the radial probability density and the eigenenergies.

Percolating cosmic string networks from kination

We describe a new mechanism, whose ingredients are realized in string compactifications, for the formation of cosmic (super)string networks. Oscillating string loops grow when their tension μ decreases with time. If 2H+μ˙/μ<0, where H is the Hubble parameter, loops grow faster than the scale factor and an initial population of isolated small loops (for example, produced by nucleation) can grow, percolate, and form a network. This condition is satisfied for fundamental strings in the background of a kinating volume modulus rolling toward the asymptotic large volume region of moduli space. Such long kination epochs are motivated in string cosmology by both the electroweak hierarchy problem and the need to solve the overshoot problem. The tension of such a network today is set by the final vacuum; for phenomenologically appealing large volume scenario vacua, this would lead to a fundamental string network with Gμ∼10−10. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Klein–Gordon particles in cosmic string spacetime: the noninertial effects of a two-way rotating frame and the associated degeneracies

Klein–Gordon particles in cosmic string spacetime: the noninertial effects of a two-way rotating frame and the associated degeneracies

Impact of Q-balls formed by first-order phase transition on sterile neutrino dark matter

We explore the mechanism that can explain the production of lepton asymmetry and two types of sterile neutrino dark matter. The first type involves heavy sterile dark matter produced directly by the decay of Q-balls which are formed by first-order phase transition in the early universe; the second consists of keV sterile neutrino dark matter, produced resonantly with the aid of lepton asymmetry from Q-ball decay. Besides, gravitational waves from cosmic strings generated during the phase transition process could be detected at future interferometers.

Finite temperature fermionic condensate and energy–momentum tensor in cosmic string spacetime

Here we analyze the expectation value of the fermionic condensate and the energy–momentum tensor associated with a massive charged fermionic quantum field with a nonzero chemical potential propagating in a magnetic-flux-carrying cosmic string in thermal equilibrium at finite temperature T. The expectation values of the fermionic condensate and the energy–momentum tensor are expressed as the sum of vacuum expectation values and the finite temperature contributions coming from the particles and antiparticles excitation. The thermal expectations values of the fermionic condensate and the energy–momentum tensor are even periodic functions of the magnetic flux with period being the quantum flux, and also even functions of the chemical potential. Because the analyses of vacuum expectation of the fermionic condensate and energy–momentum tensor have been developed in literature, here we are mainly interested in the investigation of the thermal corrections. In this way we explicitly study how these observable behaves in the limits of low and high temperatures, and also for points near the string. Besides the analytical discussions, we included some graphs that exhibit the behavior of these observable for different values of the physical parameters of the model.

Explaining PTA results by metastable cosmic strings from SO(10) GUT

In a recent paper ( Phys. Rev. D 108 (2023) 095053), we have demonstrated that the 2023 PTA results, which hint at a stochastic gravitational wave (GW) background at nanohertz frequencies, point towards a promising model-building route for realizing SO(10) Grand Unification with embedded inflation. The proposed supersymmetric scenario solves the doublet-triplet splitting without fine-tuning, accounts for charged fermion and neutrino masses, avoids conflicts with current proton decay bounds, and includes only representations no larger than the adjoint. It features multi-step breaking of SO(10) to the Standard Model gauge symmetry, with inflation embedded such that metastable cosmic strings are produced at the end of inflation. This cosmic string network generates a stochastic GW background that can explain the PTA results. In this paper, we provide a detailed analysis of the singled out GUT model class, focusing on how the gauge coupling unification condition affects the scales of multi-step SO(10) breaking and the preferred GW spectra. The lowest breaking scale, linked to inflation, the generation of right-handed neutrino masses for the seesaw mechanism, and metastable cosmic string production, coincides with the range suggested by the PTA results.

Spectrum of global string networks and the axion dark matter mass

Cold dark matter axions produced in the post-inflationary Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking scenario serve as clear targets for their experimental detection, since it is in principle possible to give a sharp prediction for their mass once we understand precisely how they are produced from the decay of global cosmic strings in the early Universe. In this paper, we perform a dedicated analysis of the spectrum of axions radiated from strings based on large scale numerical simulations of the cosmological evolution of the Peccei-Quinn field on a static lattice. Making full use of the massively parallel code and computing resources, we executed the simulations with up to 112643 lattice sites, which allows us to improve our understanding of the dependence on the parameter controlling the string tension and thus give a more accurate extrapolation of the numerical results. We found that there are several systematic effects that have been overlooked in previous works, such as the dependence on the initial conditions, contaminations due to oscillations in the spectrum, and discretisation effects, some of which could explain the discrepancy in the literature. We confirmed the trend that the spectral index of the axion emission spectrum increases with the string tension, but did not find a clear evidence of whether it continues to increase or saturates to a constant at larger values of the string tension due to the severe discretisation effects. Taking this uncertainty into account and performing the extrapolation with a simple power law assumption on the spectrum, we find that the dark matter mass is predicted in the range of m a ≈ 95–450 μeV.

Generalized symmetry in dynamical gravity

We explore generalized symmetry in the context of nonlinear dynamical gravity. Our basic strategy is to transcribe known results from Yang-Mills theory directly to gravity via the tetrad formalism, which recasts general relativity as a gauge theory of the local Lorentz group. By analogy, we deduce that gravity exhibits a one-form symmetry implemented by an operator Uα labeled by a center element α of the Lorentz group and associated with a certain area measured in Planck units. The corresponding charged line operator Wρ is the holonomy in a spin representation ρ, which is the gravitational analog of a Wilson loop. The topological linking of Uα and Wρ has an elegant physical interpretation from classical gravitation: the former materializes an exotic chiral cosmic string defect whose quantized conical deficit angle is measured by the latter. We verify this claim explicitly in an AdS-Schwarzschild black hole background. Notably, our conclusions imply that the standard model exhibits a new symmetry of nature at scales below the lightest neutrino mass. More generally, the absence of global symmetries in quantum gravity suggests that the gravitational one-form symmetry is either gauged or explicitly broken. The latter mandates the existence of fermions. Finally, we comment on generalizations to magnetic higher-form or higher-group gravitational symmetries.

Future targets for light gauge bosons from cosmic strings

Cosmic strings, theoretical one-dimensional topological defects from the early universe, provide a valuable opportunity for exploring dark matter (DM) production and gravitational wave (GW) emission. Our study investigates the production of gauge bosons and GW emission from cosmic string decay, considering the constraints imposed by cosmological observations. We specifically examine how gauge bosons radiated from strings contribute to DM and dark radiation, with limits set by the observed DM abundance and cosmic microwave background data, respectively. Additionally, we analyze the gravitational wave spectrum of this model across both low and high frequencies. Notably, the spectrum typically follows a f−1/3 pattern at high frequencies, beyond the pivot frequency f∗. We derive an analytical expression for the frequency f∗ and confirm its accuracy through numerical verification. Furthermore, we compare the GW spectrum of this model with the forecasted capabilities of future GW observatories, such as the Einstein Telescope, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, the Big Bang Observer, and μAres. Finally, we discuss how these considerations impact the model parameters, specifically the gauge boson mass and the energy scale of U(1) symmetry breaking, providing insights into how cosmic strings could enhance our understanding of DM and GW astronomy.

Gravitational waves from low-scale cosmic strings

Gravitational waves from low-scale cosmic strings

Static, cylindrically symmetric spacetime in the coincident f(Q) gravity

In this paper we consider a static, cylindrically symmetric spacetime with coincident f(Q) gravity. Since the field equation of this spacetime in symmetric teleparallel gravity is suitable for choosing the function of f(Q) in the form of power series and exponential forms which are in coherent with cosmological observations, anisotropic perfect fluid solutions of these forms are discussed for this spacetime. Energy densities, directional pressures and energy conditions are plotted and analysed for a few different metric potentials. Although corresponding cosmic strings violate all energy conditions in both f(Q) functions, the corresponding Levi-Civita solution violates all energy conditions in the power law function of f(Q), but for exponential f(Q) gravity they are satisfied in small regions.

Thermodynamic relation of accelerating black holes in anti-de Sitter spacetime

We consider accelerating black holes in four-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime and investigate the extremality relations by examining perturbative corrections to both the entropy of black holes and their extremality bounds. It is shown that the so-called Goon and Penco (univeral) relation is also valid for accelerating black holes. Furthermore, it is found that an appropriate matching condition is necessary between the perturbation parameter of the relation with the perturbative correction to such black holes, and the parameter with information about the conical deficits on the north and south poles with the cosmic string tensions in order to satisfy the extremality relations. This result indicates that the extremality (univeral) relation of a class of accelerating black holes holds exhibit behavior similar to the Weak Gravity Conjecture.

Landau quantization under effects of torsion and confinement potentials

In this paper, we have investigated the nonrelativistic limit of a quantum particle, subjected to a uniform magnetic field and in the presence of some confinement potentials, immersed in a background with a cosmic string and a screw dislocation. We separately examined four models, constructed the energy spectrum and cyclotron frequency for each of them, and checked the consistency of the results by considering the limit of some characteristic parameters of the potentials.

Electromagnetic wave propagation in Eddington-inspired Born–Infeld gravity space-time with topological defects

In this study, we focus on examining the characteristics of electromagnetic fields within a curved space-time background under the framework of Eddington-inspired Born–Infeld (EiBI) gravity, in the presence of a global monopole. We derived Maxwell’s vacuum field equations in this curved spacetime and obtained a set of linear differential equations for the electric and magnetic fields. After decoupling these equations, we solved for the analytical solutions of both the electric and magnetic fields using special functions. We then extended our analysis to the same EiBI-gravity framework, this time incorporating a cosmic string. Following a similar approach, we derived the first-order differential equations governing the electric and magnetic fields and obtained their analytical solutions using special functions. Our findings demonstrate significant influences of the global monopole, cosmic string, and the Eddington parameters on the behavior of electromagnetic waves in this curved space-time configuration with topological defects, resulting in notable deviations from the Minkowski flat space case.

Dynamics of cosmic string formation with emission of gravitational waves: a toy model

Starting from an extended theory of general relativity with boundary terms included, we study a toy model to describe the dynamical collapse of an infinite cylinder with positive spatial curvature from which a cosmic string is formed after collapsing, and we examine the production of gravitational waves (GW) emitted during the collapse. The background dynamics of the radial collapse is described by a massive scalar field which departs from the equilibrium when the scalar field climbs through the quadratic potential. During the collapse the radial pressure is considered as null, so that the kinetic and the potential energy densities are equaled. The components of the GW modes +,×and B, for the polarization tensor, are analytically obtained.