Thermodynamics of cosmic defect network evolution

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Avelino, PP (Author) FCUP; Sousa, L (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Physical Review D

Vol. 93

ISSN: 2470-0010

Publisher: American Physical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-501

DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.93.023519

Abstract (EN): We show that simple thermodynamic conditions determine, to a great extent, the equation of state and dynamics of cosmic defects of arbitrary dimensionality. We use these conditions to provide a more direct derivation of the velocity-dependent one-scale (VOS) model for the macroscopic dynamics of topological defects of arbitrary dimensionality in a (N + 1)-dimensional homogeneous and isotropic universe. We parametrize the modifications to the VOS model associated with the interaction of the topological defects with other fields, including, in particular, a new dynamical degree of freedom associated with the variation of the mass per unit p-area of the defects, and we compute the corresponding scaling solutions. The observational impact of this new dynamical degree of freedom is also briefly discussed.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9