Cosmic string constraints from WMAP and the South Pole Telescope data

Cora Dvorkin, Mark Wyman, and Wayne Hu
Phys. Rev. D 84, 123519 – Published 23 December 2011

Abstract

The predictions of the inflationary ΛCDM paradigm match today’s high-precision measurements of the cosmic microwave background anisotropy extremely well. The same data put tight limits on other sources of anisotropy. Cosmic strings are a particularly interesting alternate source to constrain. Strings are topological defects, remnants of inflationary-era physics that persist after the big bang. They are formed in a variety of models of inflation, including string theory models such as brane inflation. We assume a “Nambu-Goto” model for strings, approximated by a collection of unconnected segments with zero-width, and show that measurements of temperature anisotropy by the South Pole Telescope break a parameter degeneracy in the WMAP data, permitting us to place a strong upper limit on the possible string contribution to the CMB anisotropy: the power sourced by zero-width strings must be <1.75% (95% CL) of the total or the string tension Gμ<1.7×107. These limits imply that the best hope for detecting strings in the CMB will come from B-mode polarization measurements at arcminute scales rather than the degree scale measurements pursued for gravitational wave detection.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 30 September 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.84.123519

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Cora Dvorkin1,2,3, Mark Wyman1,4, and Wayne Hu1,4

  • 1Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago Illinois 60637, USA
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago Illinois 60637, USA
  • 3School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
  • 4Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago Illinois 60637, USA

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 84, Iss. 12 — 15 December 2011

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×