Cosmic Strings and Cosmic Superstrings

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current understanding of cosmic strings and superstrings, their theoretical foundations, dynamics, and potential observational signatures in cosmology, linking string theory concepts with observable universe phenomena.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of cosmic superstrings, highlighting their differences from traditional cosmic strings and discussing their evolution and observational implications.

Findings

Cosmic strings can arise as gauge theory solitons in GUTs.

Cosmic superstrings differ from solitonic strings in their properties and formation.

Observational signatures may provide insights into string theory models.

Abstract

In these lectures, I review the current status of cosmic strings and cosmic superstrings. I first discuss topological defects in the context of Grand Unified Theories, focusing in particular in cosmic strings arising as gauge theory solitons. I discuss the reconciliation between cosmic strings and cosmological inflation, I review cosmic string dynamics, cosmic string thermodynamics and cosmic string gravity, which leads to a number of interesting observational signatures. I then proceed with the notion of cosmic superstrings arising at the end of brane inflation, within the context of brane-world cosmological models inspired from string theory. I discuss the differences between cosmic superstrings and their solitonic analogues, I review our current understanding about the evolution of cosmic superstring networks, and I then briefly describe the variety of observational consequences, which may help us to get an insight into the stringy description of our Universe.