Topological Defects in Cosmology: Research Progress

In summary, topological defects in cosmology refer to formations that occur during the phase transitions of the early universe, similar to the threads of ice that remain in water. They are categorized into four types: cosmic strings, cosmic walls, magnetic monopoles, and textures. Research is still ongoing in this field, as seen in the paper "Status of particle physics solutions to the UHECR puzzle" which examines the potential for topological defects to explain ultra-high energy cosmic rays. This paper also mentions new types of topological defects, such as Monopolium M and cosmic necklaces.
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touqra
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What is topological defects in cosmology? Is this a current field of research and what are their progresses?
 
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Just think of them as product of phase transitions, think for example when ice pass to water, the fine threads of ice that remains in water. Then, some cosmological theories propose that the early universe suffered some phase transition, product of
what topological deffects were formed.
Habitually divided in 4 categories:
-cosmic strings
-cosmic walls
-magnetic monopoles
-textures

And yes, there's still research. This paper
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0406174
Status of particle physics solutions to the UHECR puzzle
Authors: M. Kachelriess
Comments: 15 pages, 8 eps figures, contribution to the special issue "Ultimate energy particles in the Universe" of Comptes Rendues (eds. M. Boratav, G. Sigl)
Report-no: MPP-2004-1
Journal-ref: C.R. Physique 5 (2004) 441

"The status of solutions to the ultra-high energy cosmic ray puzzle that involve particle physics beyond the standard model is reviewed. Signatures and experimental constraints are discussed for most proposals like the Z burst model and topological defects (both allowed only as subdominant contribution), supermassive dark matter (no positive evidence from its key signatures galactic anisotropy and photon dominance), strongly interacting neutrinos or new primaries (no viable models known), and violation of Lorentz invariance (possible)"

examine the possibility that UHECRs are emitted from topological deffects, and talks about some new classes of topological deffects, the Monopolium M,
and cosmic necklaces, for example
 
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1. What are topological defects in cosmology?

Topological defects are imperfections or irregularities in the structure of the universe, caused by phase transitions in the early universe. They can occur in various forms such as cosmic strings, domain walls, and monopoles.

2. How do topological defects affect the evolution of the universe?

Topological defects can have a significant impact on the evolution of the universe by influencing the distribution of matter and energy. They can also affect the formation of cosmic structures and may leave observable imprints on the cosmic microwave background.

3. What is the current research progress on topological defects in cosmology?

There has been significant progress in understanding the properties and implications of topological defects in cosmology through theoretical models, numerical simulations, and observational data. However, there is still much to be explored and understood in this field.

4. Can topological defects be detected or observed?

There have been attempts to detect topological defects through various observational techniques, such as searching for their gravitational lensing effects or their signatures in the cosmic microwave background. However, no definitive evidence for the existence of topological defects has been found so far.

5. Are topological defects relevant in modern cosmology?

Although there is no conclusive evidence for their existence, topological defects are still relevant in modern cosmology as they provide an interesting avenue for understanding the early universe and its evolution. They also serve as a test for various theoretical models and can potentially explain certain cosmological puzzles.

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