A disintegrating cosmic string

In this: publication
By this: publisher
In this Subject: Nuclear Physics
By this author: Griffiths J.B. ;&nbsp; Docherty P.

Authors: Griffiths J.B.; Docherty P.

Source: Classical and Quantum Gravity, Volume 19, Number 11, 2002 , pp. L109-L112(4)

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Abstract:

We present a simple sandwich gravitational wave of the Robinson-Trautman family. This is interpreted as representing a shock wave with a spherical wavefront which propagates into a Minkowski background minus a wedge (i.e. the background contains a cosmic string). The deficit angle (the tension) of the string decreases through the gravitational wave, which then ceases. This leaves an expanding spherical region of Minkowski space behind it. The decay of the cosmic string over a finite interval of retarded time may be considered to generate the gravitational wave.

Language: English

Document Type: Miscellaneous

Publication date: 2002-01-01