Numerical simulation of cosmic-string evolution in flat spacetime

Journal Article · Sat Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Phys. Rev. D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.36.990· OSTI ID:6063578

Smith, A G; Vilenkin, A

We present a numerical simulation of the evolution of a system of cosmic strings in flat spacetime. Our algorithm for the string dynamics exactly integrates the Nambu equation of motion. The strings are represented by discrete points on a spatial lattice, allowing an intercommuting algorithm which exactly preserves all relevant quantities. We find that the system evolves to a steady state in which most of the energy is in loops of the smallest size allowed in the simulation. ''Infinite'' strings present in the initial state fragment into a distribution of small loops. In the absence of an energy cutoff there is no equilibrium, and the steady state artificially imposed by the cutoff bears no resemblance to the initial state.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155
• OSTI ID: 6063578
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. D; (United States) Vol. 36:4; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALGORITHMS
COMPOSITE MODELS
COSMOLOGY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
EXTENDED PARTICLE MODEL
FIELD THEORIES
LATTICE FIELD THEORY
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PARTICLE MODELS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUARK MODEL
SPACE-TIME
STRING MODELS
UNIVERSE