Analytic Study of Small Scale Structure on Cosmic Strings

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dc.creatorPolchinski, Joseph
dc.creatorRocha, Jorge V.
dc.date2006-06-19
dc.date2007-11-07
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T11:05:08Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T11:05:08Z
dc.descriptionThe properties of string networks at scales well below the horizon are poorly understood, but they enter critically into many observables. We argue that in some regimes, stretching will be the only relevant process governing the evolution. In this case, the string two-point function is determined up to normalization: the fractal dimension approaches one at short distance, but the rate of approach is characterized by an exponent that plays an essential role in network properties. The smoothness at short distance implies, for example, that cosmic string lensing images are little distorted. We then add in loop production as a perturbation and find that it diverges at small scales. This need not invalidate the stretching model, since the loop production occurs in localized regions, but it implies a complicated fragmentation process. Our ability to model this process is limited, but we argue that loop production peaks a few orders of magnitude below the horizon scale, without the inclusion of gravitational radiation. We find agreement with some features of simulations, and interesting discrepancies that must be resolved by future work.
dc.description28 pages, 4 figures. v3: various small clarifications in calculations (secs. 2 and 4) v4: ref. added
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0606205
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0606205
dc.identifierPhys.Rev.D74:083504,2006
dc.identifierdoi:10.1103/PhysRevD.74.083504
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/189118
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Phenomenology
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.subjectGeneral Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Theory
dc.titleAnalytic Study of Small Scale Structure on Cosmic Strings
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