Louis Leblond (Texas A&M University)
Cosmic Necklaces from String Theory


We present the properties of a cosmic superstring network in the scenario of flux compactification. An infinite family of strings, the (p,q)-strings, are allowed to exist. The flux compactification leads to a string tension that is periodic in p. Monopoles, appearing here as beads on a string, are formed in certain interactions in such networks. This allows bare strings to become cosmic necklaces. We study network evolution in this scenario, outlining what conditions are necessary to reach a cosmologically viable scaling solution. We also analyze the physics of the beads on a cosmic necklace, and present general conditions for which they will be cosmologically safe, leaving the network's scaling undisturbed. In particular, we find that these conditions include requiring the average loop size to be large. Finally, we argue that loop formation will promote a scaling solution for the interbead distance in some situations.



02 09 2007, ISCAP Seminar Room Pupin 908, 2:00pm