Topological Defects in Cosmology

TL;DR

This paper introduces cosmic topological defects, discussing their formation, evolution, and potential observable signatures like effects on the cosmic microwave background, highlighting their significance in understanding the universe.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of cosmic topological defects, focusing on conducting strings, vorton formation, and their imprints on the cosmic microwave background.

Findings

Cosmic strings can produce observable signatures in the CMB.

Vorton formation is a significant aspect of defect evolution.

Simulations suggest detectable imprints of defects in cosmological data.

Abstract

Topological defects are ubiquitous in condensed-matter physics but only hypothetical in the early universe. In spite of this, even an indirect evidence for one of these cosmic objects would revolutionize our vision of the cosmos. We give here an introduction to the subject of cosmic topological defects and their possible observable signatures. Beginning with a review of the basics of general defect formation and evolution, we then focus on mainly two topics in some detail: conducting strings and vorton formation, and some specific imprints in the cosmic microwave background radiation from simulated cosmic strings.