Dynamical Simulation of Non-Abelian Cosmic Strings

Abstract

We describe a method for simulating the dynamics of an $S_3$ cosmic string network. We use a lattice Monte Carlo to generate initial conditions for the network, which subsequently is allowed to relax continuously according to a simplified model of string dynamics. The dynamics incorporates some novel features which, to our knowledge, have not been studied in previous numerical simulations: The existence of two types of string which may have different tensions, and the possibility that two non-commuting strings may intersect. Simulation of the non-commuting fluxes presents a computational challenge as it requires a rather complex gauge-fixing procedure. The flux definitions change as strings change their positions and orientations relative to each other and must be carefully updated as the network evolves. The method is described here in some detail, with results to be presented elsewhere.