Gravitational lensing by non-self-intersecting vortons

Abstract

We investigate the gravitational lensing signatures of vorton configurations, considering the circular vorton, the Kibble-Turok vorton, and a newly proposed class that incorporates simultaneous excitations of the first, second, and third harmonic modes. Working within the weak-field and thin-lens approximations, we demonstrate that circular vortons produce a sharp lensing discontinuity that separates two regions with qualitatively distinct distortions. The corresponding Einstein ring co-exists alongside an almost undistorted source image. This effect is significantly amplified in the case of non-circular vortons, where asymmetries and higher-harmonic deformations amplify the discontinuity and lead to complex image structures. These distinctive lensing patterns offer potential discriminants between different vorton configurations, suggesting that future high-resolution surveys may provide a novel window into the microphysics of current-carrying cosmic strings.