Cosmic strings increasing internal energy?

In summary, Edward Harrison discusses the issue of energy conservation at cosmological levels in his article. He mentions a study by Rees and Gott which suggests that the internal energy of a comoving volume, such as a cosmic string, increases as the universe expands. However, the reader did not fully understand the concept of internal energy in this context. The article by Rees and Gott mentions tension as the form of energy. The question then arises if the energy of a cosmic string will continue to increase as long as the universe expands.
  • #1
Suekdccia
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TL;DR Summary
Cosmic strings increasing internal energy as the Universe expands?
I was reading an article by Edward Harrison, which tackles the problems of conservation of energy at cosmological scales.

At some point (point 2.4) he cites several article, including one by Rees and Gott, which he says indicates that the internal energy of a comoving volume (e.g. a cosmic string) increases as the universe expands. However I have looke the article by Rees and Gott and I didn't understand it well. So, if a cosmic string increases its energy as the universe expands, will it increase as long as the expansion is maintained? And what is exactly this internal energy? Heat? Radiation?...

Link to the article: https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1995ApJ...446...63H
 
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  • #2
The energy is tension, if I recall.
 

1. What are cosmic strings?

Cosmic strings are hypothetical one-dimensional objects that are theorized to exist in the fabric of space-time. They are thought to be incredibly thin and incredibly dense, and are believed to have been formed in the early universe during the process of cosmic inflation.

2. How do cosmic strings increase internal energy?

Cosmic strings are thought to increase internal energy through their gravitational effects. As they move through space-time, they create gravitational waves that can transfer energy to surrounding matter. This process is known as the "gravitational heating" of cosmic strings.

3. Can cosmic strings be observed?

Currently, there is no direct evidence for the existence of cosmic strings. However, scientists are actively searching for indirect evidence through various methods such as studying the cosmic microwave background radiation and looking for distortions in the light from distant galaxies.

4. What are the potential implications of cosmic strings increasing internal energy?

If cosmic strings do exist and are actively increasing internal energy, it could have significant consequences for our understanding of the universe. It could potentially explain the origin of dark matter and dark energy, and also provide insights into the early universe and the process of cosmic inflation.

5. Can cosmic strings be harnessed for energy production?

While cosmic strings may have the potential to increase internal energy, it is currently not feasible to harness this energy for practical purposes. The energy produced by cosmic strings is estimated to be extremely small and would require advanced technology to harness it. Furthermore, the existence of cosmic strings has yet to be confirmed, making it difficult to explore potential uses for their energy.

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