Straight and Wiggly Cosmic Strings in Horndeski Theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the properties of straight and wiggly cosmic strings within Horndeski theory, highlighting how scalar field mass influences their behavior and screening effects.

Contribution

It provides new solutions for cosmic strings in Horndeski theory, analyzing effects of scalar field mass and comparing to general relativity.

Findings

Scalar field mass causes screening, making solutions approach GR.

Solutions for wiggly strings are obtained and analyzed.

Scalar field effects significantly alter string properties.

Abstract

In this article, the behavior of a straight cosmic string is studied for the linearized version of Horndeski theory in cases where the scalar field is massless or massive. Several physical properties of such solutions are discussed in detail regarding the effects of the scalar field of this theory. The mass of the scalar field induces a screening effect such that, in the massive theory, the string solution approaches to the general relativistic one. We also consider wiggly cosmic strings, obtain the solutions for both massless and massive cases, discuss their properties and observe similar screening effects.