Bosonic condensates in realistic supersymmetric GUT cosmic strings

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the detailed structure of supersymmetric GUT cosmic strings, highlighting the role of multiple field condensates and their impact on string properties, challenging simplified models used in cosmology.

Contribution

It provides a realistic analysis of cosmic string structure in supersymmetric GUTs, including multiple field condensates and their effects on string energy and currents.

Findings

Multiple fields condense in cosmic strings, affecting their properties.

Condensates can modify the energy per unit length of strings.

The study offers a criterion to compare realistic strings with the abelian Higgs approximation.

Abstract

We study the realistic structure of F-term Nambu-Goto cosmic strings forming in a general supersymmetric Grand Unified Theory implementation, assuming standard hybrid inflation. Examining the symmetry breaking of the unification gauge group down to the Standard Model, we discuss the minimal field content necessary to describe abelian cosmic strings appearing at the end of inflation. We find that several fields will condense in most theories, questioning the plausible occurrence of associated currents (bosonic and fermionic). We perturbatively evaluate the modification of their energy per unit length due to the condensates. We provide a criterion for comparing the usual abelian Higgs approximation used in cosmology to realistic situations.