Published December 30, 2002 | Version v1
Journal article

Topological defects in contracting universes

  • 1. Centro de Fisica do Porto e Departamento de Fisica da Faculdade de Ciencias, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 687, 4169-007 Porto (Portugal)
  • 2. Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, 98 bis Boulevard Arago, 75014 Paris (France)
  • 3. Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA (United Kingdom)
  • 4. Centro de Astrofisica da Universidade do Porto, Rua das Estrelas, s/n, 4150-762, Porto (Portugal)

Description

We study the behavior and consequences of cosmic string networks in contracting universes. They approximately behave during the collapse phase as radiation fluids. Scaling solutions describing this are derived and tested against high-resolution numerical simulations. A string network in a contracting universe, together with the gravitational radiation it generates, can affect the dynamics of the universe both locally and globally and be an important source of radiation, entropy, and inhomogeneity. We discuss possible implications for bouncing and cyclic models

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review Letters
Journal Volume
89
Journal Issue
27
Journal Page Range
p. 271301-271301.4
ISSN
0031-9007
CODEN
PRLTAO

INIS

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2002 The American Physical Society