Cosmic Strings Research Articles

Gauged global strings

We investigate the string solutions and cosmological implications of the gauge U(1)Z × global U(1)PQ model. With two hierarchical symmetry-breaking scales, the model exhibits three distinct string solutions: a conventional global string, a global string with a heavy core, and a gauge string as a bound state of the two global strings. This model reveals rich phenomenological implications in cosmology. During the evolution of the universe, these three types of strings can form a Y-junction configuration. Intriguingly, when incorporating this model with the QCD axion framework, the heavy-core global strings emit more axion particles compared to conventional axion cosmic strings due to their higher tension. This radiation significantly enhances the QCD axion dark matter abundance, thereby opening up the QCD axion mass window. Consequently, axions with masses exceeding ~ 10−5 eV have the potential to constitute the whole dark matter abundance. Furthermore, in contrast to conventional gauge strings, the gauge strings in this model exhibit a distinctive behavior by radiating axions.

Exact solutions of the Dirac oscillator under the influence of the Aharonov–Casher effect in the cosmic string background

Exact solutions of the Dirac oscillator under the influence of the Aharonov–Casher effect in the cosmic string background

The meaning of time: A digital, complex variable

This article explores the intricate concept of time, delving into its digital and complex nature. It presents a comprehensive theoretical analysis, revealing how time's multifaceted characteristics are essential for understanding various cosmic phenomena. The study extends to the implications of these properties in the realms of Cosmic Inflation and String Theory, particularly focusing on the accelerated expansion of space. This work aims to offer a deeper perspective on the complex nature of time, enriching the existing theories in Relativity and Cosmology, and providing a novel framework for viewing time beyond traditional interpretations.

Massless fermions and superconductivity of string-wall composites

An axion cosmic string is known to be a chiral superconductor when the axion couples to an electrically charged fermion. After the QCD phase transition, a QCD axion string is attached by N domain walls. We would like to elucidate the fate of massless fermions on a global string after domain walls attached not only in the axion model but also in general models having string-wall composites. We investigate the Dirac equation under various string-wall composite backgrounds both in the axion(-like) models and in the N\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{N} $$\\end{document} = 2 supersymmetry inspired Abelian-Higgs models. We give an answer to the elementary question of whether massless fermions exist, and if so, where they are localized. The answer depends on fermion/boson masses in the models, and the massless fermion can be localized either on the string, on one of the domain walls, or in one of the vacua. We find analytic solutions for the fermion zero mode function by which we prove the existence of the massless fermion on the string-wall composites. We also show supercurrents flowing along the string-wall composites and anomalous electric currents flowing in from outside.

Spectrum of gravitational waves from long-lasting primordial sources

We discuss long-lasting gravitational wave sources arising and operating during radiation-dominated stage. Under a set of assumptions, we establish the correspondence between cosmological evolution of a source and the resulting gravitational wave spectrum. Namely, for the source energy density ρs falling as a power law characterized by the exponent β, i.e., ρs ∝ 1/aβ , where a is the Universe scale factor, the spectrum takes the form Ωgw ∝ f 2β-8 in certain ranges of values of constant β and frequencies f. In particular, matching to the best fit power law shape of stochastic gravitational wave background discovered recently by Pulsar Timing Array collaborations, one identifies β ≈ 5. We demonstrate the correspondence with concrete examples of long-lasting sources: domain walls and cosmic strings.

From quantum gravity to gravitational waves through cosmic strings

From quantum gravity to gravitational waves through cosmic strings

Electromagnetic waves generated by null cosmic strings passing pulsars

Electromagnetic waves generated by null cosmic strings passing pulsars

Chronology Protection in f(T) Gravity: The Case of Gott’s Pair of Moving Cosmic Strings

As a consequence of the spacetime structure, defined by the tetrad field instead of the metric tensor alone, f(T) gravity seems to harbor its own chronology protection agency. When Gott’s pair of moving cosmic strings is considered, it is shown that the requirement of having a global parallelization—i.e., a global smooth field of tetrads– drastically restricts the form of the tetrads on the junction surface between the two strings. The junction conditions on the tetrad field are satisfied only if the corresponding boosts needed to put the strings in motion are null on the matching surface. This seems to throw overboard Gott’s construction from the outset without the need for analyzing the divergence of the expectation value of the energy–momentum tensor on the Cauchy horizon, evading in this way bothersome quarrels concerning the choice of vacuum.

Harmonic Oscillator in Cosmic String Space-Time with Dislocation Under a Repulsive $$1/r^2$$ Potential and Rotational Frame Effects

Harmonic Oscillator in Cosmic String Space-Time with Dislocation Under a Repulsive $$1/r^2$$ Potential and Rotational Frame Effects

Comment on “Effects of (1+2)-dimensional circularly symmetric and static traversable wormhole with cosmic string on oscillator field”

We analyze the mathematical results and physical conclusions put forward in a recent paper about “the relativistic quantum dynamics of an oscillator field described by the Klein–Gordon equation in a circularly symmetric and static (1+2)-dimensional traversable wormhole spacetime with cosmic strings”. We show that the existence of allowed oscillator frequencies conjectured by the author is a mere artifact of the truncation of a power series with the purpose of obtaining bound-state solutions in terms of polynomials. Our theoretical analysis suggest that the eigenvalues are continuous, increasing functions of the oscillator frequency, conclusion that is verified by a straightforward numerical calculation.

Gravitational waves from metastable cosmic strings in the Pati-Salam model in light of new pulsar timing array data

A series of pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) recently observed gravitational waves at the nanohertz frequencies. Motivated by this remarkable result, we present a novel class of Pati-Salam models that give rise to a network of metastable cosmic strings, offering a plausible explanation for the observed PTA data. Additionally, we introduce a hybrid inflationary scenario to eliminate magnetic monopoles that arise during the subsequent phase transitions from the Pati-Salam symmetry to the Standard Model gauge group. The resulting scalar spectral index is compatible with Planck data, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio is anticipated to be extremely small. Moreover, we incorporate a nonthermal leptogenesis to generate the required baryon asymmetry in our framework. Finally, the gravitational wave spectra generated by the metastable cosmic strings not only correspond to signals observed in recent PTAs, including NANOGrav, but are also within the exploration capacity of both present and future ground- and space-based experiments. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Deep Photometry of Suspected Gravitational Lensing Events: Potential Detection of a Cosmic String

Cosmic strings (CS) are one-dimensional cosmological-size objects predicted in realistic models of the early Universe. Analysis of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and Planck surveys revealed several CS candidates. One of the candidates, CSc-1, was found to be most reliable because of the statistically significant chains of gravitational lensing (GL) candidates in its field. We observed the brightest of the objects in the CSc-1 field, a galaxy pair SDSSJ110429.61+233150.3. The significant correlation between the spectra of the two components indicates the possible GL nature of the pair. Our simulations of observational data in the CSc-1 field shows that a large number of pairs can be explained by the complex geometry of the CS. Simulations of the SDSSJ110429 galaxy pair has shown that the observed angle between the components of the pair can be explained if the CS is strongly inclined and, possibly, bent in the image plane. In our preliminary data, we also detected the sign of the sharp isophotal edge in one image, which along with CMB and spectral data strongly suggests the possibility of a CS detection.

Probing stochastic gravitational wave background from SU(5) × U(1)χ strings in light of NANOGrav 15-year data

A realistic model of SU(5) × U(1)χ, embedded in SO(10) supersymmetric grand unified theory, is investigated for the emergence of a metastable cosmic string network. This network eventually decays via the Schwinger production of monopole-antimonopole pairs, subsequently generating a stochastic gravitational wave background that is compatible with the NANOGrav 15-year data. In order to avoid the monopole problem in the breaking of both SO(10) and SU(5), a non-minimal Higgs inflation scenario is incorporated. The radiative breaking of the U(1)χ symmetry at a slightly lower scale plays a pivotal role in aligning the string tension parameter with the observable range. The resultant gravitational wave spectrum not only accounts for the signal observed in the most recent pulsar timing array (PTA) experiments but is also accessible to both current and future ground-based and space-based experiments.

Vacuum Effects Induced by a Plate in de Sitter Spacetime in the Presence of a Cosmic String

In this paper, we investigate the vacuum expectation values of the field squared and the energy–momentum tensor associated to a charged massive scalar quantum field in a (1+D)-dimensional de Sitter spacetime induced by a plate (flat boundary) and a carrying-magnetic-flux cosmic string. In our analysis, we admit that the flat boundary is perpendicular to the string, and the scalar field obeys the Robin boundary condition on the plate. In order to develop this analysis, we obtain the complete set of normalized positive-energy solutions of the Klein–Gordon equation compatible with the model setup. Having obtained these bosonic modes, we construct the corresponding Wightman function. The latter is given by the sum of two terms: one associated with the boundary-free spacetime, and the other induced by the flat boundary. Although we have imposed the Robin boundary condition on the field, we apply our formalism considering specifically the Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. The corresponding parts have opposite signs. Because the analysis of bosonic vacuum polarization in boundary-free de Sitter space and in the presence of a cosmic string, in some sense, has been developed in the literature, here we are mainly interested in the calculations of the effects induced by the boundary. In this way, closed expressions for the corresponding expectation values are provided, as well as their asymptotic behavior in different limiting regions. We show that the conical topology due to the cosmic string enhances the boundary-induced vacuum polarization effects for both field squared and the energy–momentum tensor, compared to the case of a boundary in pure de Sitter spacetime. Moreover, the presence of a cosmic string and boundary induces non-zero stress along the direction normal to the boundary. The corresponding vacuum force acting on the boundary is also investigated.

Fractional cosmic strings

Topological defects are investigated in the framework of quantum gravity models based on the hypothesis of an effective fractal dimension of the Universe. From a minimal coupling procedure, the tools of fractional calculus are used to determine the geometry associated to a fractional cosmic string. Several results for the propagation of light are discussed, notably the light-deviation angle due to the defect and the geodesics of light.

Repeated gravitational wave bursts from cosmic strings

Repeated gravitational wave bursts from cosmic strings

Interactions between several types of cosmic strings

We study the interaction of several types of static straight cosmic strings, including local strings, global strings, and bosonic superconducting strings with and without magnetic currents. First, we evaluate the interaction energy of two widely separated cosmic strings using the point source formalism and show that the most dominant contribution to the interaction energy comes from the excitation of the lightest mediator particles in a underlying theory. The interaction energy at arbitrary separation distances is then analyzed numerically by the gradient flow method. It turns out that an additional scalar field introduced in the bosonic superconducting string becomes an additional source of attraction. For such a bosonic superconducting string, we find that a string with two winding numbers is energetically favorable compared to two strings with a single winding number in a certain parameter region. Our analysis reveals that a phase structure of bosonic superconducting strings is richer than that of local and global strings and that the formation of bound states at intersections of bosonic superconducting strings is favored.

Practical approaches to analyzing PTA data: Cosmic strings with six pulsars

Practical approaches to analyzing PTA data: Cosmic strings with six pulsars

Vacuum Interaction of Topological Strings at Short Distances

The paper provides an extended overview of recent results obtained by the authors in the process of studying the vacuum interaction of topological cosmic strings at short distances, taking into account their transverse size a and the mass m of the quantized field. We consider the case of a massive real-valued scalar field with minimal coupling. It is shown that at the interstring distances significantly larger than the Compton length, lc=1/m, the Casimir effect is damped exponentially. On the other hand, at distances smaller than lc but much larger than the typical string width, the field-mass influence becomes insignificant. In this case, the partial contribution of a massive field to the Casimir energy is of the same order as the contribution of a massless one. At these distances, the string’s transverse size is insignificant also. However, at the interstring distances of the same order as a string radius, the energy of the vacuum interaction of thick strings may significantly surpass the one for two infinitely thin strings with the same mass per unit length.

Topological defects on relativistic quantum oscillator in wormhole space–time background

In this research work, the relativistic quantum dynamics of oscillator field in wormhole background with a topological defect produced by a cosmic string is investigated. We consider an example of Morris–Thorne-type wormhole including a osmic string and derived the wave equation of the relativistic quantum oscillator. Through the Heun equation, we solve analytically the radial equation and obtain the ground state energy level [Formula: see text] and the radial wave function [Formula: see text] as particular cases. In fact, it is shown that the eigenvalue solution of the oscillator field is influenced by the topological defect of cosmic string and shifted the result. Furthermore, the wormhole throat radius also modifies the energy levels and the wave function of the relativistic quantum oscillator.