Magnetic reconnection in the wakes of cosmic strings

TL;DR

This paper investigates magnetic reconnection in cosmic string wakes, showing it releases significant kinetic energy that could explain low energy Gamma Ray Bursts in the post recombination universe.

Contribution

It demonstrates that magnetic reconnection occurs in cosmic string wakes and estimates its energy release, linking it to observed gamma-ray bursts.

Findings

Magnetic reconnection occurs in cosmic string wakes.

Reconnection releases substantial kinetic energy.

Potential explanation for low energy Gamma Ray Bursts.

Abstract

The motion of cosmic strings in the universe leads to the generation of wakes behind them. We study magnetized wakes of cosmic strings moving in the post recombination plasma. We show that magnetic reconnection can occur in the post shock region. Since the width of the cosmic string wake is very small, the reconnection occurs over a very short lengthscale. The reconnection leads to a large amount of kinetic energy being released in the post shock region of the cosmic string wake. This enhances the kinetic energy released during the reconnection. We make a rudimentary estimate of the kinetic energy released by the magnetic reconnection in cosmic strings wakes and show that it can account for low energy Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB) in the post recombination era.