Scaling and Small Scale Structure in Cosmic String Networks

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dc.creatorVincent, Graham R.
dc.creatorHindmarsh, Mark
dc.creatorSakellariadou, Mairi
dc.date1996-12-13
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T10:57:48Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T10:57:48Z
dc.descriptionWe examine the scaling properties of an evolving network of strings in Minkowski spacetime and study the evolution of length scales in terms of a 3-scale model proposed by Austin, Copeland and Kibble (ACK). We find good qualitative and some quantitative agreement between the model and our simulations. We also investigate small-scale structure by altering the minimum allowed size for loop production E_c. Certain quantities depend significantly on this parameter: for example the scaling density can vary by a factor of two or more with increasing E_c. Small-scale structure as defined by ACK disappears if no restrictions are placed on loop production, and the fractal dimension of the string changes smoothly from 2 to 1 as the resolution scale is decreased. Loops are nearly all produced at the lattice cut-off. We suggest that the lattice cut-off should be interpreted as corresponding to the string width, and that in a real network loops are actually produced with this size. This leads to a radically different string scenario, with particle production rather than gravitational radiation being the dominant mode of energy dissipation. At the very least, a better understanding of the discretisation effects in all simulations of cosmic strings is called for.
dc.description22pp Plain LaTeX, 12 EPS figures
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9612135
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9612135
dc.identifierPhys.Rev.D56:637-646,1997
dc.identifierdoi:10.1103/PhysRevD.56.637
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/186882
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Phenomenology
dc.titleScaling and Small Scale Structure in Cosmic String Networks
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