Bosonic (meta)stabilization of cosmic string loops

Abstract

We consider the possibility of a bosonic (meta)stabilization of a cosmic gauge string loop due to the presence of a gas of low mass bosonic particles which become trapped within the string core. This boson gas exerts a pressure which tends to counteract the string tension, allowing a circular string loop to find a finite equilibrium radius, provided that gas particles do not escape the string core. However, high energy bosons do escape, and consequently the loop shrinks and the temperature rises. Estimates indicate that the bosonic stabilization mechanism is ineffective, and the loop is unstable against decay.