Zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of Y-junctions

We study, within the Nambu-Goto approximation, the stability of massive string junctions under the influence of the tensions of three strings joining together in a Y-type configuration. The relative angle β between the strings at the junction is in general time dependent and its evolution can lead t...

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Main Authors: Avgoustidis, Anastasios, Pourtsidou, Alkistis, Sakellariadou, Mairi
Format: Article
Published: American Physical Society 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29353/
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author Avgoustidis, Anastasios
Pourtsidou, Alkistis
Sakellariadou, Mairi
author_facet Avgoustidis, Anastasios
Pourtsidou, Alkistis
Sakellariadou, Mairi
author_sort Avgoustidis, Anastasios
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description We study, within the Nambu-Goto approximation, the stability of massive string junctions under the influence of the tensions of three strings joining together in a Y-type configuration. The relative angle β between the strings at the junction is in general time dependent and its evolution can lead to zipping or unzipping of the three-string configuration. We find that these configurations are stable under deformations of the tension balance condition at the junction. The angle β relaxes at its equilibrium value and the junction grows relativistically. We then discuss other potential “unzipping agents” including monopole/string forces for long strings and curvature for loops, and we investigate specific solutions exhibiting decelerated zipping and unzipping of the Y junction. These results provide motivation for incorporating the effects of realistic string interactions in network evolution models with string junctions.
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spelling nottingham-293532020-05-04T17:00:49Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29353/ Zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of Y-junctions Avgoustidis, Anastasios Pourtsidou, Alkistis Sakellariadou, Mairi We study, within the Nambu-Goto approximation, the stability of massive string junctions under the influence of the tensions of three strings joining together in a Y-type configuration. The relative angle β between the strings at the junction is in general time dependent and its evolution can lead to zipping or unzipping of the three-string configuration. We find that these configurations are stable under deformations of the tension balance condition at the junction. The angle β relaxes at its equilibrium value and the junction grows relativistically. We then discuss other potential “unzipping agents” including monopole/string forces for long strings and curvature for loops, and we investigate specific solutions exhibiting decelerated zipping and unzipping of the Y junction. These results provide motivation for incorporating the effects of realistic string interactions in network evolution models with string junctions. American Physical Society 2015-01-15 Article PeerReviewed Avgoustidis, Anastasios, Pourtsidou, Alkistis and Sakellariadou, Mairi (2015) Zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of Y-junctions. Physical Review D, 91 (2). 025022/1-025022/20. ISSN 1550-7998 cosmic strings string theory string junctions http://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevD.91.025022 doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.91.025022 doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.91.025022
spellingShingle cosmic strings
string theory
string junctions
Avgoustidis, Anastasios
Pourtsidou, Alkistis
Sakellariadou, Mairi
Zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of Y-junctions
title Zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of Y-junctions
title_full Zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of Y-junctions
title_fullStr Zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of Y-junctions
title_full_unstemmed Zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of Y-junctions
title_short Zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of Y-junctions
title_sort zipping and unzipping in string networks: dynamics of y-junctions
topic cosmic strings
string theory
string junctions
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29353/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29353/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29353/