1996/05/23 by Robert Brandenberger, R. Brandenberger, B. Carter +5 · 8 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #astro-ph #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.54.6059
published as Phys.Rev. D54 (1996) 6059-6071 · 33 pages, 2 figures, RevTeX
arxiv created 1996/05/23 · openalex publication_date 1996/11/15 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
We investigate the cosmological consequences of particle physics theories that admit stable loops of superconducting cosmic string---vortons. General symmetry-breaking schemes are considered, in which strings are formed at one energy scale and subsequently become superconducting in a secondary phase transition at what may be a considerably lower energy scale. We estimate the abundances of the ensuing vortons, and thereby derive constraints on the relevant particle physics models from cosmological observations. For a range of values of the dimensionless parameters in the analysis, these constraints significantly restrict the category of admissible grand unified theories. However, we demonstrate that the constraints are quite compatible with recently proposed effects whereby superconducting strings may have been formed close to the electroweak phase transition.