arXiv subjects

E. P. S. Shellard

Publications and source records attributed to E. P. S. Shellard.

106 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv1997

Gravitational Waves From Cosmic Strings

Gravitational waves from cosmic strings are generated in the first fractions of a second after the Big Bang, potentially providing a unprecedented probe of the early universe. We discuss the key dynamical processes underlying calculations of the stochasti c background produced by a string network and we detail the parameter dependencies of the resulting spectral density $Ω_{gr}(f)$. The present constraints on the cosmic string mass scale $μ$ arising from the millisecond pulsar timings and primor dial nucleosynthesis are discussed, justifying our present conservative bound $Gμ/c^2 < 5.4(\pm 1.1)\times 10^{-6}$. We then discuss the strong prospect of detecting (or ruling out) cosmic string background with the next generation of gravitational wave experiments. Comparison is also made with alternative cosmological sources of gravitational waves such as inflation and hybrid topological defects.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

Recent Perspectives on Axion Cosmology

We review current cosmological constraints on the axion. We describe the basic mechanisms by which axions are created in the early universe, focussing on the standard thermal scenario where the dominant process is through axion radiation by a string network. A dark matter axion in this case would have a mass $\ma \sim 100 \microeV$, with specified large uncertainties. This cosmological lower bound leaves a viable window for the axion below the astrophysical upper limit, $\ma \lapp 1-10 \meV$. We also discuss alternative axion cosmologies which allow a much wider, but indefinite, mass range.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

CMB Anisotropy Induced by Cosmic Strings on Angular Scales $>~ 15'$

We have computed an estimate of the angular power spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) induced by cosmic strings on angular scales $>~ 15'$, using a numerical simulation of a cosmic string network; and decomposed this pattern into scalar, vector, and tensor parts. We find no evidence for strong acoustic oscillations in the scalar anisotropy but rather a broad peak. The anisotropies from vector modes dominate except on very small angular scales while the tensor anisotropies are sub-dominant on all angular scales. The anisotropies generated after recombination are even more important than in adiabatic models. We expect that these qualitative features are robust to the varying of cosmological parameters, a study which has not yet been done.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

Relic gravitational waves

The next generation of gravitational wave detectors holds out the prospect of detecting a stochastic gravitational background generated in the very early universe. In this article, we review the various cosmological processes which can lead to such a background, including quantum fluctuations during inflation, bubble collisions in a first-order phase transition and the decay of a network of cosmic strings. We conclude that signals from strongly first-order phase transitions, possibily at the end of inflation, and networks fo local cosmic strings are within the sensitivity of proposed detectors. However, backgrouds from slow-roll inflation and the electroweak phase transition are too weak.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

Large Angular Scale CMB Anisotropy Induced by Cosmic Strings

We simulate the anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) induced by cosmic strings. By numerically evolving a network of cosmic strings we generate full-sky CMB temperature anisotropy maps. Based on $192$ maps, we compute the anisotropy power spectrum for multipole moments $\ell \le 20$. By comparing with the observed temperature anisotropy, we set the normalization for the cosmic string mass-per-unit-length $μ$, obtaining $Gμ/c^2=1.05 {}^{+0.35}_{-0.20} \times10^{-6}$, which is consistent with all other observational constraints on cosmic strings. We demonstrate that the anisotropy pattern is consistent with a Gaussian random field on large angular scales.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

Relic Gravitational Waves from Cosmic Strings: Updated Constraints and Opportunities for Detection

We examine the spectrum of gravitational radiation emitted by a network of cosmic strings, with emphasis on the observational constraints and the opportunities for detection. The analysis improves over past work, as we use a phenomenological model for the radiation spectrum emitted by a cosmic string loop. This model attempts to include the effect of the gravitational back-reaction on the radiation emission by an individual loop with a high frequency cut-off in the spectrum. Comparison of the total spectrum due to a network of strings with the recently improved bound on the amplitude of a stochastic gravitational wave background, due to measurements of noise in pulsar signal arrival times, allows us to exclude a range of values of $μ$, the cosmic string linear mass density, for certain values of cosmic string and cosmological parameters. We find the conservative bound $Gμ/c^2 < 5.4 (\pm 1.1) \times 10^{-6}$ which is consistent with all other limits. We consider variations of the standard cosmological scenario, finding that an under dense, $Ω_0 < 1$ universe has little effect on the spectrum, whereas the portion of the spectrum probed by gravitational wave detectors is strongly sensitive to the thermal history of the cosmological fluid. We discuss the opportunity for the observation of this stochastic background by resonant mass and laser interferometer gravitational wave detectors.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

Primordial gravitational waves : a probe of the early universe

We discuss the potential cosmological role of gravitational wave astronomy as a probe of the very early universe. The next generation of detectors - now in production - may be able to observe a stochastic background of gravitational waves produced by violent processes during the earliest moments after the creation of the universe. Viable theoretical scenarios within detector sensitivity include strongly first-order phase transitions, possibly at the end of inflation, and networks of cosmic strings. At this stage, other primordial backgrounds from slow-roll inflation, global topological defects and the standard electroweak phase transition appear to be out of range. The discovery of any of the possible cosmological sources will have enormous implications for our understanding of the very early universe and for fundamental physics at the highest energies.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

Quantitative String Evolution

An analytic model of long string network evolution, recently developed by the authors, is presented in detail, and modified to describe string loop evolution. By treating the average string velocity, as well as the characteristic lengthscale, as dynamical variables, one can include the effects of frictional forces on the evolution of the network. This generalized `one-scale' model provides a quantitative picture of the complete evolution of a string network, including the prediction of previously unknown transient scaling regimes and a detailed analysis of the evolution of the loop population. The evolution of all cosmologically interesting string networks is studied in detail, and possible consequences of our results are discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

Radiative Backreaction on Global Strings

We consider radiative backreaction for global strings using the Kalb-Ramond formalism. In analogy to the point electron in classical electrodynamics, we show how local radiative corrections to the equations of motion allow one to remove the divergence in the self field and calculate a first order approximation to the radiation backreaction force. The effects of this backreaction force are studied numerically by resubstituting the equations of motion to suppress exponentially growing solutions. By direct comparison with numerical field theory simulations and analytic radiation calculations we establish that the `local backreaction approximation' provides a satisfactory quantitative description of radiative damping for a wide variety of string configurations. Finally, we discuss the relevance of this work to the evolution of a network of global strings and their possible cosmological consequences. These methods can also be applied to describe the effects of gravitational radiation backreaction on local strings, electromagnetic radiation backreaction on superconducting strings and other forms of string radiative backreaction.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

String Evolution with Friction

We study the effects of friction on the scaling evolution of string networks in condensed matter and cosmological contexts. We derive a generalized `one-scale' model with the string correlation length $L$ and velocity $v$ as dynamical variables. In non-relativistic systems, we obtain a well-known $L\propto t^{1/2}$ law, showing that loop production is important. For electroweak cosmic strings, we show transient damped epoch scaling with $L\propto t^{5/4}$ (or, in the matter era, $L\propto t^{3/2}$). A low initial density implies an earlier period with $L\propto t^{1/2}$. For GUT strings, the approach to linear scaling $L\propto t$ is faster than previously estimated.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1994

Radiation constraints from cosmic strings

We show that it is possible to evolve a network of global strings numerically including the effects of radiative backreaction, using the renormalised equations for the Kalb-Ramond action. We calculate radiative corrections to the equations of motion and deduce the effect on a network of global strings. We also discuss the implications of this work for the cosmological axion density.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1994

String Radiative Backreaction

We discuss radiative backreaction for global strings described by the Kalb-Ramond action with an analogous derivation to that for the point electron in classical electrodynamics. We show how local corrections to the equations of motion allow one to separate the self-field of the string from that of the radiation-field. Modifications to this 'local backreaction approximation' circumvent the runaway solutions familiar from electrodynamics, allowing these corrections to be used to evolve string trajectories numerically. Comparisons are made with analytic and numerical radiation calculations from previous work and the merits and limitations of this approach are discussed. Finally, we comment on the relevance of this work to simulations of a cosmological network of global or axion strings. These methods can also be applied to describe graviational, electromagnetic and other forms of string radiative backreaction.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1994

Current Status of Axion Cosmology

We review the current status of axion cosmology in the light of recent work. We conclude that in the standard scenario, in which a global string network forms at the Peccei-Quinn phase transition, the largest contribution to the axion density is from loops, even when uncertainties in the nature of the QCD phase transition are taken into account. We also briefly discuss the implications of non-standard scenarios, such as an inflationary epoch and entropy production.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1994

Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation Anisotropy Induced by Cosmic Strings

We report on a current investigation of the anisotropy pattern induced by cosmic strings on the cosmic microwave background radiation (MBR). We have numerically evolved a network of cosmic strings from a redshift of $Z = 100$ to the present and calculated the anisotropies which they induce. Based on a limited number of realizations, we have compared the results of our simulations with the observations of the COBE-DMR experiment. We have obtained a preliminary estimate of the string mass-per-unit-length $μ$ in the cosmic string scenario.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1994

Axion String Constraints

We study the production of cosmological axions in the standard scenario in which a global string network forms at the Peccei-Quinn phase transition. We make detailed calculations of the axions produced by string loops (a previously overlooked source), comparing these with estimates of other contributions from long strings and domain walls. We dilineate key uncertainities in the string network evolution, the chief of which is the magnitude of the radiative backreaction. We conclude that axions produces by the these topological contributions provide the significant cosmological constraint on the symmetry breaking scale $\fa$ and the mass $\ma$

astro-ph↗

arXiv1993

Global String Radiation

We study Goldstone boson (or axion) radiation from global $U(1)$-strings making direct quantitative comparisons between numerical scalar field theory simulations and linearized analytic calculations in the dual antisymmetric tensor representation. Concentrating on periodic long string configurations, we show excellent correspondence for both the amplitude and spectrum of radiation. We also find good agreement with a linearized analytic model for radiation backreaction, demonstrating that damping due to the lowest n=2 harmonic is effective in strongly suppressing higher harmonics. This work establishes the validity of the Kalb-Ramond action in describing low-energy global string dynamics, along with the associated self-field renormalization of the equations of motion. We also describe the different nature of massive radiation from high curvature regions and the collapse and annihilation of a circular loop. As an application in axion models, we discuss the relative loop and long string radiation contribution to a cosmological bound on the axion mass. A parallel linearized formalism for gravitational radiation is also provided.

astro-ph↗