String and wall formation in the early universe

Hardy M. Hodges

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 1989, vol. 158, issue 1, 479-498

Abstract: The formation of global strings and domain walls in the early Universe is investigated through the numerical solution of dynamical Langevin equations of motion. Ordered states are prepared and then cooled to the Ginzburg temperature, on time scales that allow horizons in the simulation volume, where structure is observed. We argue, and find, that the results of non-dynamical Monte Carlo computer simulations cannot be applied to describe the formation of topological defects when the correlation length at the Ginzburg temperature is significantly smaller than the horizon size. We also examine the equilibrium distribution of defects as a function of temperature and, in particular, at the Ginzburg temperature. We find that transitions from small-scale to large-scale structure occur very close to the Ginzburg temperature, in agreement with recent work.

Date: 1989
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:158:y:1989:i:1:p:479-498

DOI: 10.1016/0378-4371(89)90544-X

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