64 research outputs found
Chiral Vortons and Cosmological Constraints on Particle Physics
We investigate the cosmological consequences of particle physics theories
that admit stable loops of current-carrying string - vortons. In particular, we
consider chiral theories where a single fermion zero mode is excited in the
string core, such as those arising in supersymmetric theories with a D-term.
The resulting vortons formed in such theories are expected to be more stable
than their non-chiral cousins. General symmetry breaking schemes are considered
in which strings formed at one symmetry breaking scale become current-carrying
at a subsequent phase transition. The vorton abundance is estimated and
constraints placed on the underlying particle physics theories from
cosmological observations. Our constraints on the chiral theory are
considerably more stringent than the previous estimates for more general
theories.Comment: minor corrections made. This version will appear in PR
Collisions of strings with Y junctions
We study the dynamics of Nambu--Goto strings with junctions at which three
strings meet. In particular, we exhibit one simple exact solution and examine
the process of intercommuting of two straight strings, in which they exchange
partners but become joined by a third string. We show that there are important
kinematical constraints on this process. The exchange cannot occur if the
strings meet with very large relative velocity. This may have important
implications for the evolution of cosmic superstring networks and non-abelian
string networks.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, uses revtex 4. Clarifying comments added to
correct a conceptual error, reference updated. Version accepted by Phys Rev
Letters, with additional references and minor change
Baryogenesis through gradual collapse of vortons
We evaluate the matter-antimatter asymmetry produced by emission of fermionic
carriers from vortons which are assumed to be destabilized at the electroweak
phase transition.The velocity of contraction of the vorton, calculated through
the decrease of its magnetic energy, originates a chemical potential which
allows a baryogenesis of the order of the observed value. This asymmetry is not
diluted by reheating if the collapse of vortons is distributed along an
interval of ~ 10^-9 sec.Comment: 14 pages, Latex, no figure
Dynamical Stability of Witten Rings
The dynamical stability of cosmic rings, or vortons, is investigated for the
particular equation of state given by the Witten bosonic model. It is found
that there exists a finite range of the state parameter for which the vorton
states are actually stable against dynamical perturbations. Inclusion of the
electromagnetic self action into the equation of state slightly shrinks the
stability region but otherwise yields no qualitative difference. If the Witten
bosonic model represents a good approximation for more realistic string models,
then the cosmological vorton excess problem can only be solved by assuming
either that strings are formed at low energy scales or that some quantum
instability may develop at a sufficient rate.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX-ReVTeX (v.3), 2 figures available upon request, DAMTP
R-94/1
Cosmological Consequences of Slow-Moving Bubbles in First-Order Phase Transitions
In cosmological first-order phase transitions, the progress of true-vacuum
bubbles is expected to be significantly retarded by the interaction between the
bubble wall and the hot plasma. We examine the evolution and collision of
slow-moving true-vacuum bubbles. Our lattice simulations indicate that phase
oscillations, predicted and observed in systems with a local symmetry and with
a global symmetry where the bubbles move at speeds less than the speed of
light, do not occur inside collisions of slow-moving local-symmetry bubbles. We
observe almost instantaneous phase equilibration which would lead to a decrease
in the expected initial defect density, or possibly prevent defects from
forming at all. We illustrate our findings with an example of defect formation
suppressed in slow-moving bubbles. Slow-moving bubble walls also prevent the
formation of `extra defects', and in the presence of plasma conductivity may
lead to an increase in the magnitude of any primordial magnetic field formed.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, replaced with typos corrected and reference
added. To appear in Phys. Rev.
Evolution of Fields in a Second Order Phase Transition
We analyse the evolution of scalar and gauge fields during a second order
phase transition using a Langevin equation approach. We show that topological
defects formed during the phase transition are stable to thermal fluctuations.
Our method allows the field evolution to be followed throughout the phase
transition, for both expanding and non-expanding Universes. The results verify
the Kibble mechanism for defect formation during phase transitions.Comment: 12 pages of text plus 17 diagrams available on request, DAMTP 94-8
Scaling Property of the global string in the radiation dominated universe
We investigate the evolution of the global string network in the radiation
dominated universe by use of numerical simulations in 3+1 dimensions. We find
that the global string network settles down to the scaling regime where the
energy density of global strings, , is given by with the string tension per unit length and the scaling parameter,
, irrespective of the cosmic time. We also find that the
loop distribution function can be fitted with that predicted by the so-called
one scale model. Concretely, the number density, , of the loop with
the length, , is given by
where and is related with the Nambu-Goldstone(NG)
boson radiation power from global strings, , as with
. Therefore, the loop production function also scales and
the typical scale of produced loops is nearly the horizon distance. Thus, the
evolution of the global string network in the radiation dominated universe can
be well described by the one scale model in contrast with that of the local
string network.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Evolution of a global string network in a matter dominated universe
We evolve the network of global strings in the matter-dominated universe by
means of numerical simulations. The existence of the scaling solution is
confirmed as in the radiation-dominated universe but the scaling parameter
takes a slightly smaller value, , which is
defined as with the energy density of
global strings and the string tension per unit length. The change of
from the radiation to the matter-dominated universe is consistent with
that obtained by Albrecht and Turok by use of the one-scale model. We also
study the loop distribution function and find that it can be well fitted with
that predicted by the one-scale model, where the number density of
the loop with the length is given by with and . Thus, the evolution of the
global string network in the matter-dominated universe can be well described by
the one-scale model as in the radiation-dominated universe.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Winding up by a quench: vortices in the wake of rapid Bose-Einstein condensation
A second order phase transition induced by a rapid quench can lock out
topological defects with densities far exceeding their equilibrium expectation
values. We use quantum kinetic theory to show that this mechanism, originally
postulated in the cosmological context, and analysed so far only on the mean
field classical level, should allow spontaneous generation of vortex lines in
trapped Bose-Einstein condensates of simple topology, or of winding number in
toroidal condensates.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; misprint correcte
- âŠ