Long Range Effects of Cosmic String Structure

Details Long Range Effects of Cosmic String Structure Long Range Effects of Cosmic String Structure

1995-10-27

arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9510058v1

Phys.Rev. D53 (1996) 6829-6841

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

25 pages, RevTeX with epsfig, 3 Postscript figures

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevD.53.6829

We combine and further develop ideas and techniques of Allen \& Ottewill, Phys. Rev.D, {\bf 42}, 2669 (1990) and Kay \& Studer Commun. Math. Phys., {\bf 139}, 103 (1991) for calculating the long range effects of cosmic string cores on classical and quantum field quantities far from an (infinitely long, straight) cosmic string. We find analytical approximations for (a) the gravity-induced ground state renormalized expectation values of $\hat\varphi^2$ and $\hat T_\mu{}^\nu$ for a non-minimally coupled quantum scalar field far from a cosmic string (b) the classical electrostatic self force on a test charge far from a superconducting cosmic string. Surprisingly -- even at cosmologically large distances -- all these quantities would be very badly approximated by idealizing the string as having zero thickness and imposing regular boundary conditions; instead they are well approximated by suitably fitted strengths of logarithmic divergence at the string core. Our formula for ${\langle {\hat \varphi}^2 \rangle}$ reproduces (with much less effort and much more generality) the earlier numerical results of Allen \& Ottewill. Both ${\langle {\hat \varphi}^2 \rangle}$ and ${\langle {\hat T}_{\mu}{}^{\nu} \rangle}$ turn out to be ``weak field topological invariants'' depending on the details of the string core only through the minimal coupling parameter ``$\xi$'' (and the deficit angle). Our formula for the self-force (leaving aside relatively tiny gravitational corrections) turns out to be attractive: We obtain, for the self-potential of a test charge $Q$ a distance $r$ from a (GUT scale) superconducting string, the formula $- Q^2/(16\epsilon_0r\ln(qr))$ where $q$ is an (in principle, computable) constant of the order of the inverse string radius.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Long Range Effects of Cosmic String Structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Long Range Effects of Cosmic String Structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Long Range Effects of Cosmic String Structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-729336