Cosmic Strings and Superstrings

TL;DR

This paper reviews the theoretical motivation, potential cosmological impacts, and observational prospects of cosmic strings and superstrings, highlighting their significance in early universe models and string theory frameworks.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the reasons for considering cosmic strings and superstrings, and discusses methods to distinguish between them observationally.

Findings

Cosmic strings could have formed during early universe phase transitions.

Superstrings may produce observable signatures distinct from ordinary cosmic strings.

Detection strategies include gravitational lensing and gravitational wave observations.

Abstract

Cosmic strings are predicted by many field-theory models, and may have been formed at a symmetry-breaking transition early in the history of the universe, such as that associated with grand unification. They could have important cosmological effects. Scenarios suggested by fundamental string theory or M-theory, in particular the popular idea of brane inflation, also strongly suggest the appearance of similar structures. Here we review the reasons for postulating the existence of cosmic strings or superstrings, the various possible ways in which they might be detected observationally, and the special features that might discriminate between ordinary cosmic strings and superstrings.