Scaling laws for weakly interacting cosmic (super)string and p-brane networks

P. P. Avelino, L. Sousa

Abstract
In this paper we find new scaling laws for the evolution of p-brane networks in N þ 1-dimensional Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universes in the weakly interacting limit, giving particular emphasis to the case of cosmic superstrings (p = 1) living in a universe with three spatial dimensions (N = 3). In particular, we show that, during the radiation era, the root-mean-square velocity is ν = 1/√2 p and the characteristic length of non-interacting cosmic string networks scales as L ∝ a^3/2 (a is the scale factor), thus leading to string domination even when gravitational backreaction is taken into account. We demonstrate, however, that a small non-vanishing constant loop chopping efficiency parameter ~c leads to a linear scaling solution with constant LH ≪ 1 (H is the Hubble parameter) and ν ∼ 1/√2 p in the radiation era, which may allow for a cosmologically relevant cosmic string role even in the case of light strings. We also determine the impact that the radiation-matter transition has on the dynamics of weakly interacting cosmic superstring networks.

Physical Review D
Volume 85, Page 083515_1
April 2012

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.85.083525
ADS Bibliographic code: 2012PhRvD..85h3525A