Cosmic String Loops, Large and Small

TL;DR

This paper improves the modeling of cosmic string networks, showing that small loops are consistently produced alongside larger loops, aligning with simulation results and enhancing understanding of string network dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces an improved model for cosmic string networks that accurately predicts the production of small and large loops, matching simulation data.

Findings

Small loops are a robust feature of cosmic string networks.

The model's predictions agree quantitatively with simulation results.

Both small and horizon-scale loops are produced in the network.

Abstract

We extend our earlier model of the small scale structure of cosmic string networks through an improved treatment of the separation of long and short scales. We find that the production of small loops (at the gravitational radiation scale) is a robust feature of string networks, in addition to a population of loops near the horizon scale. We obtain quantitative agreement with the scaling of loop production functions as found in simulations by two groups.