Microlensing by cosmic strings

We consider the signature and detectability of gravitational microlensing of distant quasars by cosmic strings. Because of the simple image configuration such events will have a characteristic lightcurve, in which a source would appear to brighten by exactly a factor of 2, before reverting to its original apparent brightness. We calculate the optical depth and event rate, and conclude that current predictions and limits on the total length of strings on the sky imply optical depths of ≲ 10⁻⁸ and event rates of fewer than one event per 10⁹ sources per year. Disregarding those predictions but replacing them with limits on the density of cosmic strings from the cosmic microwave background fluctuation spectrum, leaves only a small region of parameter space (in which the sky contains about 3 × 10⁵ strings with deficit angle of the order of 0.3 milli-seconds) for which a microlensing survey of exposure 10⁷ source years, spanning a 20–40-year period, might reveal the presence of cosmic strings.     

Aspherical accretion of cosmic strings

A simulation of accretion of a string loop has been done. It shows that aspherical accretion is essential for large-scale loops. All configurations found in the distribution of galaxies, such as filaments, pancakes, bubbles, and voids, can be formed by the accretion of cosmic strings.     

Cosmic rays and cosmic strings

It has been suggested that the highest-energy cosmic rays might be protons resulting from collapsing cosmic strings in the Universe. We point out that this mechanism, although attractive, has important shortcomings, notably the fact that gamma rays produced along with the protons and those produced by the protons in their interactions with the cosmic background radiation generate cascades in the Universe and result in unacceptably high fluxes of cosmic gamma rays in the region of hundreds of MeV.     

Massive cosmic strings in Bianchi type II

We study a massive cosmic strings with BII symmetries cosmological models in two contexts. The first of them is the standard one with a barotropic equation of state. In the second one we explore the possibility of taking into account variable “constants” (G and Λ). Both models are studied under the self-similar hypothesis. We put special emphasis in calculating the numerical values for the equations of state. We find that for ω∈(0,1], G, is a growing time function while Λ, behaves as positive decreasing time function. If ω=0, both “constants”, G and Λ, behave as true constants.     

Superconducting cosmic strings interpretation of some astronomical objects

The possible interpretation of such astrophysical objects as quasars, the new class of supernova remnants, 0.511 MeV intense annihilation line, and the exotic binary system SS 433 has been given based on the string theory.     

Anisotropic universe with cosmic strings and bulk viscosity

Spatially homogeneous and anisotropic LRS Bianchi type-I string cosmological models are studied in the frame work of general relativity when the source for the energy momentum tensor is a bulk viscous fluid containing one dimensional strings. A barotropic equation of state for the pressure and density is assumed to get determinate solutions of the field equations. The bulk viscous pressure is assumed to be proportional to the energy density. The physical and kinematical properties of the models are discussed. The role of bulk viscosity in getting an inflationary phase in the universe is studied.     

Primordial magnetic field,inflation and cosmic strings

The possibility of a primordial magnetic field is discussed. The formation of closed, superconducting cosmic strings before the end of inflation is pointed out as a mechanism able to preserve a magnetic field inside the loops which could provide seeds for galactic magnetic fields.     

Non-existence of cosmic strings in bimetric theory of gravitation

Bianchi type cosmological models are considered in Bimetric theory of gravitation proposed by Rosen (1973) in the context of cosmic strings. It is interesting to note that cosmic strings do not occur in Bianchi type cosmologies. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Bianchi type-IX cosmic strings in a scalar-tensor theory of gravitation

Bianchi type-IX space-time is considered in the presence of cosmic string source in the frame work of a scalar- tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Saez and Ballester (Phys. Lett. A 113:467, 1985). Exact cosmological models representing geometric (Nambu) string, p string and baratropic string are discussed in this theory. Some physical and kinematical properties of the models are also studied.     

Fusion of strings and its consequences at the highest cosmic ray energies

It is shown that the fusion of string is a source of particle production in nucleus-nucleus collisions outside the kinematical limits of nucleon-nucleon collisions. The spectrum of different particles is compared with the high energy data on p-A collisions obtaining a reasonable agreement. Results for A-B collisions at and AGeV are given and possible implications for cosmic rays are examined. Both the enhancement of the cumulative effect and the reduction of multiplicities implied by string fusion should strongly modify the first interactions and the profile of extensive air showers and should be taken into account in their simulation.     

LRS Bianchi type-II universe with cosmic strings and bulk viscosity in a modified theory of gravity

A locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type-II space-time is considered in the frame work of a modified theory of gravitation proposed by Harko et al. (Phys. Rev. D 84:024020, 2011) when the source for energy momentum tensor is a bulk viscous fluid containing one dimensional cosmic strings. A barotropic equation of state is assumed to get a determinate solution of the field equations. Also, the bulk viscous pressure is assumed to be proportional to the energy density. The physical behavior of the model is also discussed.     

Kaluza-Klein universe with cosmic strings and bulk viscosity in f(R,T) gravity

A five dimensional Kaluza-Klein cosmological model is considered in the frame work of f(R,T) gravity proposed by Harko et al. (Phys. Rev. D 84:024020, 2011) when the source for energy momentum tensor is a bulk viscous fluid containing one dimensional cosmic strings. A barotropic equation of state is assumed to get a determinate solution of the field equations. Also, the bulk viscous pressure is assumed to be proportional to the energy density. The physical behavior of the model is also discussed.     

LRS Bianchi type-II Universe with cosmic strings and bulk viscosity in a scalar tensor theory of gravitation

A spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-II cosmological model is obtained in a scalar tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Saez and Ballester (Phys. Lett. A 130:467, 1986) when the source for energy momentum tensor is a bulk viscous fluid containing one-dimensional cosmic strings. Some physical and kinematical properties of the model are also discussed.     

Shock wave effects in solar cosmic ray events

Two low-energy ( 1 MeV) solar proton events which display a gradual intensity increase to a maximum near the time of an SSC, followed by an abrupt, large decrease, are interpreted in terms of a population of cosmic rays which are swept ahead of an interplanetary shock wave. A model which describes the variation with time of intensity and anisotropy at the Earth is developed using a Monte Carlo technique which traces the histories of particles released impulsively at the Sun. A good fit to each of the profiles observed at 0.6 to 0.9 MeV proton energies is obtained with a diffusion coefficient 2 × 10²⁰ cm² s^–) = 13.46 - 2.99 sin²1 and a near perfect shock reflector.Now at University of California, LASL, Los Alamos, New Mexico.     

Lensing magnification effects on the cosmic shear statistics

Gravitational lensing causes a correlation between a population of foreground large-scale structures and the observed number density of the background distant galaxies as a consequence of the flux magnification and the lensing area distortion. This correlation has not been taken into account in calculations of the theoretical predictions of the cosmic shear statistics but may cause a systematic error in a cosmic shear measurement. We examine its impact on the cosmic shear statistics using the semi-analytic approach. We find that the lensing magnification has no practical influence on the cosmic shear variance. Exploring the possible shapes of the redshift distribution of source galaxies, we find that the relative amplitude of the effect on the convergence skewness is 3 per cent at most.