cosmic strings

Linelike defects in spacetime that are infinitesimally thin but of very high mass. They can be either in an infinite linear form or a closed loop. Cosmic strings in the early Universe could act as gravitational condensates to promote galaxy formation. There is as yet no experimental support for their existence, but they could produce linelike anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background radiation.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

Mentioned in

cosmic string
dark matter
domain wall
hot dark matter
string theory

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