Cosmic String Theory: The Current Status

Abstract

This is a pedagogical introduction to the basics of the cosmic string theory and also a review of the recent progress made with respect to the macrophysical predictions of the theory. Topics covered include, string formation and evolution, large scale structure formation, generation of peculiar velocity flows, cosmic microwave background (CMB) fluctuations, lensing, gravitational waves and constraints from the msec pulsar. Particular emphasis is placed on the signatures predicted on the CMB and the corresponding non-gaussian features.