Gamma Ray Signatures from Ordinary Cosmic Strings

Abstract

We calculate the flux of ultra high energy photons from individual ordinary (i.e. non-superconducting) cosmic strings and compare the results with the sensitivity of current and proposed TeV and EeV telescopes. Our calculations give only upper limits for the gamma ray flux, since the source of the photons, jets from particle production at cusps, may be weakened by back reaction effects. For the usual cosmic distribution of strings, the predicted bursts from strings with the value of mass per unit length associated with galaxy formation or light strings may just be detectable. A diffuse gamma ray background from light strings may also be seen by the Fly's Eye detector at above $7 \times 10^{10}$ GeV.