Renormalized Quantum Stress-Energy Tensor of a Nonzero Radius Cosmic String
Abstract
We calculate the effects of quantum fluctuations of a scalar field in the "ballpoint pen" cosmic string geometry. Using the approach to renormalization established previously for the energy density in two space dimensions, we extend those calculations to dimensions, nonzero scalar mass, and the full stress-energy tensor, including its contribution to the null energy condition for radial geodesics. The calculation demonstrates in detail the process of renormalization in curved spacetime, including the effects of the conformal anomaly. This model provides one of the few examples where quantum effects in curved spacetime can be explicitly calculated.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2503.05129,
title = {Renormalized Quantum Stress-Energy Tensor of a Nonzero Radius Cosmic String},
author = {Noah Graham},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2503.05129},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
12 pages, 12 .eps figures; v2: added graphs of vacuum polarization and analysis of singular behavior, minor editing including corrections of typographical errors, version to appear in PRD