Spacetime Evolution Induced by a Massive Cosmic String in Numerical Relativity

Abstract

Cosmic strings are one-dimensional topological defects formed during phase transitions in the early universe. ''Massive'' cosmic strings possess a sufficiently large tension to close their transverse space, forming a conical singularity outside the string, as a static gravitational effect. In a dynamical context, such strings are expected to drive topological inflation. In this work, we investigate the spacetime evolution induced by the formation of a massive cosmic string in a radiation-dominated cosmological background, imposing cylindrical symmetry. Using full numerical relativity simulations, we observe that the string core undergoes topological inflation and that its boundary moves inwards superluminally, which causally disconnects the core from the outer universe. Between the core and the asymptotic regions, a nearly matter-dominated decelerating region originates sourced by the oscillating string fields. This region is bounded by a local maximum (''belly'') and local minimum (''throat'') of the circumferential radius, while the throat recedes outwards at about 10% the speed of light. Furthermore, a gravitational wavefront is emitted from the string, characterizing the light cone of the string formation. Even behind the wavefront, the exterior region no longer exhibits a ''conical'' structure. Based on the simulation results, we construct a Penrose diagram, reflecting the causal structure of the entire spacetime.