English

Energy-conservation constraints on cosmic string loop production and distribution functions

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics 2019-12-25 v2 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Physics - Phenomenology

Abstract

A network of cosmic strings would lead to gravitational waves which may be detected by pulsar timing or future interferometers. The details of the gravitational wave signal depend on the distribution of cosmic string loops, which are produced by intercommutations from the scaling network of long strings. We analyze the limits imposed by energy conservation, i.e., by the fact that the total amount of string flowing into loops cannot exceed the amount leaving the long strings. We show that some recent suggestions for the cosmic string loop production rate and distribution are ruled out by these limits. As a result, gravitational waves based on such suggestions, in particular "model 3" used in LIGO data analysis, are not to be expected.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1907.09373,
  title  = {Energy-conservation constraints on cosmic string loop production and distribution functions},
  author = {Jose J. Blanco-Pillado and Ken D. Olum and Jeremy M. Wachter},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1907.09373},
  year   = {2019}
}

Comments

11 pages. v2: new appendix on range of beta, clarifications

R2 v1 2026-06-23T10:27:15.253Z