Cosmological evolution of semilocal string networks

Abstract

Semilocal strings—a particular limit of electroweak strings—are an interesting example of a stable non-topological defect whose properties resemble those of their topological cousins, the Abrikosov–Nielsen–Olesen vortices. There is, however, one important difference: a network of semilocal strings will contain segments. These are ‘dumbbells’ whose ends behave almost like global monopoles that are strongly attracted to one another. While closed loops of string will eventually shrink and disappear, the segments can either shrink or grow, and a cosmological network of semilocal strings will reach a scaling regime. We discuss attempts to find a ‘thermodynamic’ description of the cosmological evolution and scaling of a network of semilocal strings, by analogy with well-known descriptions for cosmic strings and for monopoles. We propose a model for the time evolution of an overall length scale and typical velocity for the network as well as for its segments, and some supporting (preliminary) numerical evidence.

Citation

Achúcarro, A., Avgoustidis, A., López-Eiguren, A., Martins, C. J. A. P., & Urrestilla, J. (2019). Cosmological evolution of semilocal string networks. Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 377(2161), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2019.0004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 2, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Nov 11, 2019
• Publication Date: Dec 30, 2019
• Deposit Date: Nov 28, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 28, 2019
• Journal: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
• Print ISSN: 1364-503X
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-2962
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 377
• Issue: 2161
• Article Number: 20190004
• Pages: 1-11
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2019.0004
• Keywords: General Engineering; General Physics and Astronomy; General Mathematics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3428756
• Publisher URL: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2019.0004