Cosmic strings and the large-scale structure of the Universe

A review of the cosmic string scenario of structure formation is given, emphasizing the basic points and the current status and problems. The main results are that in the context of a cosmic string model, hot dark matter is an acceptable dark matter candidate. The cosmic string model predicts planar density enhancements, the most numerous and prominent of which have planar dimensions comparable to the comoving horizon at teq, the time of equal matter and radiation. Cosmic strings also give rise to a dinstinguished signal in the microwave background. (orig.)