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arXiv · hep-ph/0202116

Quantum tunneling of superconducting string currents

Jose J. Blanco-Pillado·Ken D. Olum·Alexander Vilenkin
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Abstract

We investigate the decay of current on a superconducting cosmic string through quantum tunneling. We construct the instanton describing tunneling in a simple bosonic string model, and estimate the decay rate. The tunneling rate vanishes in the limit of a chiral current. This conclusion, which is supported by a symmetry argument, is expected to apply in general. It has important implications for the stability of chiral vortons.

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Jose J. Blanco-Pillado, Ken D. Olum, Alexander Vilenkin. 2002-02-13. Quantum tunneling of superconducting string currents. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.66.023506

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