Fractal properties and small-scale structure of cosmic string networks

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2006

Authors

Martins, CJAP (Author) Other; Shellard, EPS (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology

Vol. 73 No. 123520

ISSN: 1550-7998

Publisher: American Physical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 101 Citations

Scopus - 100 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-NJW

DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.73.043515

Abstract (EN): We present results from a detailed numerical study of the small-scale and loop production properties of cosmic string networks, based on the largest and highest resolution string simulations to date. We investigate the nontrivial fractal properties of cosmic strings, in particular, the fractal dimension and renormalized string mass per unit length, and we also study velocity correlations. We demonstrate important differences between string networks in flat (Minkowski) spacetime and the two very similar expanding cases. For high resolution matter era network simulations, we provide strong evidence that small-scale structure has converged to "scaling" on all dynamical length scales, without the need for other radiative damping mechanisms. We also discuss preliminary evidence that the dominant loop production size is also approaching scaling.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6