Updated constraints on the cosmic string tension

2010/05/07 by Richard A. Battye, Richard Battye, A. Moss +1 · 7 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Cosmic background radiation #Cosmic microwave background #Cosmic string #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Higgs boson #Mathematical physics #Particle physics #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Spectral density #Spectral line #Statistics #String (physics) #astro-ph.CO

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.82.023521

published as Phys.Rev.D82:023521,2010 · 12 pages, 6 figures, original submission was not final version and contained some minor errors which was submitted by accident

arxiv created 2010/05/07 · openalex publication_date 2010/07/26 · arxiv updated 2014/11/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We reexamine the constraints on the cosmic string tension from cosmic microwave background (CMB) and matter power spectra, and also from limits on a stochastic background of gravitational waves provided by pulsar timing. We discuss the different approaches to modeling string evolution and radiation. In particular, we show that the unconnected segment model can describe CMB spectra expected from thin string (Nambu) and field theory (Abelian-Higgs) simulations using the computed values for the correlation length, rms string velocity and small-scale structure relevant to each variety of simulation. Applying the computed spectra in a fit to CMB and SDSS data we find that G\ensuremathμ/c²<2.6\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-7 (2\ensuremathσ) if the Nambu simulations are correct and G\ensuremathμ/c²<6.4\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-7 in the Abelian-Higgs case. The degeneracy between G\ensuremathμ/c² and the power spectrum slope n_S is substantially reduced from previous work. Inclusion of constraints on the baryon density from big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) imply that n_S<1 at around the 4\ensuremathσ level for both the Nambu and Abelian-Higgs cases. As a by-product of our results, we find there is ``moderate-to-strong'' Bayesian evidence that the Harrison-Zel'dovich spectrum is excluded (odds ratio of \ensuremath∼100\ensuremath\mathbin:1) by the combination of CMB, SDSS, and BBN when compared to the standard 6 parameter fit. Using the contribution to the gravitational wave background from radiation era loops as a conservative lower bound on the signal for specific values of G\ensuremathμ/c² and loop production size, \ensuremathα, we find that G\ensuremathμ/c²<7\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-7 for \ensuremathαc²/(\ensuremathΓG\ensuremathμ)\ensuremath≪1 and G\ensuremathμ/c²<5\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-11/\ensuremathα for \ensuremathαc²/(\ensuremathΓG\ensuremathμ)\ensuremath≫1.

Citations

• Final Results from the BIMA CMB Anisotropy Survey and Search for a Signature of the Sunyaev‐Zel'dovich Effect
• CMB polarization power spectra contributions from a network of cosmic strings
• Observational constraints on cosmic strings: Bayesian analysis in a three-dimensional parameter space
• The Case against Scaling Defect Models of Cosmic Structure Formation
• Bounds on cosmic strings from WMAP and SDSS
• Structure Formation by Cosmic Strings with a Cosmological Constant
• Cosmological evolution of cosmic string loops
• Detailed study of defect models for cosmic structure formation
• Cosmic strings as the source of small-scale microwave background anisotropy
• Stochastic gravitational wave background from light cosmic strings
• SECOND AND THIRD SEASON QUaD COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND TEMPERATURE AND POLARIZATION POWER SPECTRA
• Cosmological constraints from the SDSS luminous red galaxies
• FIVE-YEARWILKINSON MICROWAVE ANISOTROPY PROBEOBSERVATIONS: COSMOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION
• FIVE-YEAR WILKINSON MICROWAVE ANISOTROPY PROBE OBSERVATIONS: DATA PROCESSING, SKY MAPS, AND BASIC RESULTS
• Brane inflation

Cited by

• Scaling configurations of cosmic superstring networks and their cosmological implications
• Evolution of FLRW spacetime after the birth of a cosmic string
• Can Superconducting Cosmic Strings Piercing Seed Black Holes Generate Supermassive Black Holes in the Early Universe?
• Bosonic (meta)stabilization of cosmic string loops
• Note on structure formation from cosmic string wakes
• The 21 cm signature of shock heated and diffuse cosmic string wakes
• Red spectral tilt and observable gravity waves in shifted hybrid inflation

Related

• Scaling configurations of cosmic superstring networks and their cosmological implications
• Gravitational Waves From Cosmic Strings
• The stochastic gravitational wave background from cosmic superstrings
• Constraints on the spectral signatures of superconducting cosmic strings
• Constraints on Cosmic Strings from the Curl-Mode CMB Lensing Power Spectrum measured by ACT DR6